John Biglen in Single Shell

Made in 1930's by Abercrombie & Fitch, plywood, interlocking. John Biglen was the world's best sculler back in the 1870s when crew was big as a professional sport. The Biglin Brothers, James, and Bernard (Barney) were brothers from New York active in professional rowing during the decade following the American Civil War, when rowing was one of America’s most popular spectator sports. John and Barney were the subject of a series of eleven paintings by Thomas Eakins including the one displayed here (1873).  Thanks to Wikipedia.