On the Yacht „Namouna“, Venice 1890

Julius Leblanc Stewart painted "On the Yacht 'Namouna', Venice" using oil on canvas. The painting captures a fleeting moment of leisure among the wealthy during what was known as the Gilded Age, a time of rapid industrialization and vast fortunes. The subjects, with their relaxed poses and fashionable attire, embody the privileges afforded by their class. Stewart, an American expatriate, found success in depicting such scenes of upper-class life, catering to a market eager to celebrate and emulate this lifestyle. The setting on a yacht in Venice adds to the aura of opulence and escapism. Italy, during this period, represented a cultural playground for the European and American elite. As historians, we can look to period literature, social registers, and economic data to more fully understand the social structures that underpinned Stewart's world and work. The painting is a document of its time, reflecting both the allure and the inequities of the late 19th century.