NEWBURYPORT — City Hall, the Institution for Savings, Abraham’s Bagels and the Custom House Maritime Museum all have one thing in common – they feature paintings by local artist Richard Burke Jones.
Jones, 74, received applause Monday from the roughly two dozen people who witnessed the unveiling of his latest work, “A View of the Custom House in the Age of Sails”, at the Water Street museum.
“I’ve always been close to the museum and it has been great to me,” he said, shortly before the unveiling about 11:30 a.m.
Jones, Newburyport’s longtime city clerk, said the painting took three to four months to complete, including the time researching the historical accuracy of each component.
Most of the painting was done “en plein air,” French for outdoors, eliciting some pithy comments from passersby along the way, he told the crowd.
Jones began his brief speech by saying he prepared his remarks in advance.
“I should have you out of here by 1:30, 2 o’clock,” he said, drawing chuckles from the crowd.
A few minutes later, he revealed that interpreting the 19th century through art was easier for him than doing the same for the 21st century. He also described his experience of having internal conversations about the past and present, calling them “sometimes frustrating but ultimately rewarding.”
“Maybe, I’m a bit of a recycled soul,” Jones said.
During his 55-year artistic journey, Jones has created hundreds of paintings, many of them historical in nature.
He told guests that it is “humbling” to have his work at the Custom House and hopes it affords visitors a “way back in time.”
Custom House Executive Director James Russell said the painting would be displayed in a “prominent place in the museum” at a location to be determined.
Russell said he fell in love with Jones’ work after a limited edition print was recently displayed at the museum for a short time.
Jones’ latest piece creates an “immediate sense” of what Newburyport looked like in the 1850s, Russell said
“His (historical) accuracy is exceptional,” Russell said, adding that the museum would welcome more work by Jones.
For his efforts, Jones received a present from museum officials, a silver dory sculpture.
Custom House board Chair Bob Cronin, who served on the Newburyport City Council for years – working in tandem with Jones, told the crowd that the city clerk helped get his feet wet in terms of city politics.
“This man gave me insight, guidance and the ability to do my job,” Cronin said.
The unveiling also served as a chance for Cronin and Russell to remind guests of the museum’s Sept. 19 fundraiser, the Seafaring Soiree, at the Blue Ocean Music Hall in Salisbury. The fundraiser, which Russell said should generate “north of $250,000,” is part of the museum’s 50th anniversary campaign.
“It has turned into a phenomenon,” Russell said.
Cronin said the sold-out event has become the “toughest ticket in town” and will be able to move the museum to the next level in terms of its offerings to the community.
Dave Rogers is the editor of The Daily News of Newburyport. Email him at: drogers@newburyportnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @drogers41008.