Restoration of Painting at the American Merchant Marine Academy

For nearly 80 years, a painting of Jesus has served as an emblem of the crew’s faith at the American Merchant Academy. Recently, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has decided to restore this artwork to its former glory, moving it from a dark basement where it had been relocated during his Biden-era tenure.

During a visit to the academy in May, Duffy expressed his plan to reinstall the painting in 2023.

“God is good for these mariners – a true faithful American patriot!” he commented.

On Monday, Duffy shared his excitement on social media about the successful reinstallation.

“Jesus is out of the basement!” he wrote. “I promised to restore faith @usmmao by bringing ‘Christ’ back to its rightful place after being hidden away under Biden and others. God is good for these mariners – a true faithful American patriot!”

According to Captain Tony Ceraoro from the Academy, “Our aim is to preserve some of the cultural and historical heritage of the Academy. We celebrate the past and resilience of those who came before us.” He added that the painting represents history, memory, and hope, ensuring that midshipmen remember their experiences as part of the institution’s legacy.

Known as “Christ on the Water” or “Jesus and the Yacht,” the painting has been a part of the academy since it was founded in 1947. Created by Marine Artist Lt. Hunter Wood, USMS, in 1944, it is believed to be painted on the canvas of the sails using marine paint, with the varnish being a spar varnish.

The painting was removed in 2023 under the Biden administration following complaints from the Military Religious Freedom Foundation and had been placed in a flood-prone area of the building.

With its return to Wiley Hall, many loyal followers of the academy can now appreciate the painting once again. Duffy’s post even featured photos of over 20 midshipmen celebrating the occasion.