Joseph Lee (1827 - 1880)

Known for meticulous attention to detail, especially in his marine paintings, Joseph Lee painted in the Bay Area of California in the late 19th century. Ship captains often commissioned him to do ship portraits, and it was laughingly said that you could rig a ship with one of his paintings.

Lee was born in England and arrived in San Francisco in 1858, listed as a sign painter. Little is known of his art training, but he came to public attention when he won a bronze metal for tin design in 1858 at the second Mechanic's Fair.

Very few of his works survive.