拍品专文
Originally considered a member of the Boston School, Abbott Fuller Graves is best known as a painter of Kennebunkport, Maine. William Gerdts describes Graves as "the most important painter not only to live in the town but to devote much of his art to its pictorialization." (Art Across America, New York, 1990, vol. I, p. 24-5)
Graves began painting at an early age and like many of his colleagues travelled to Paris in 1884 to study art. During this first visit, Graves secured his love and skill for painting--particularly flowers--as well as his friendship with fellow artist Edmund Tarbell. Upon his return to Boston, Graves taught painting with the well-known Impressionist painter Childe Hassam, with whom he shared the love of flower gardens and sun-filled landscapes.
In 1891 Graves journeyed to Kennebunkport. Shortly thereafter he purchased his first house and by 1906 had built a large home for himself and his family. The artist became immediately involved in both the social and civic aspects of the Kennebunkport community, as well as painting the town's landscape and people. As the artist himself said of his home, "I love the place, the quaint characters and buildings, the stories, the old wharves--they are all dear to me. I love the people, too; there is a peculiar geniality about these people who are willing to adopt any sort of character of costume to help me paint a picture." (quoted in J. Butler, Abbott Fuller Graves, 1979)
According to Joyce Butler, the Boston Sunday Post published a full-page article about Graves on May 4, 1913. A photograph of Pond Lilies was featured, along with a picture of the artist working on his most recent canvas. This dates Pond Lilies to 1912 or 1913.
Further, one of the women in the painting is a native Kennebunkport resident named Doris Ward, who is depicted in a flat-bottomed boat on Observatory Pasture Pond. Named for a wooden observatory tower erected in 1825, the pasture and pond was a favorite spot for residents of Kennebunkport.
Pond Lilies, while typical for Graves in terms of subject matter, is somewhat atypical for the artist. The influence of his early years painting in Boston and Paris with Hassam and Tarbell is clearly seen in this canvas. Unlike his classic flower pictures, Graves seems particularly inspired by the light, atmosphere and technique of the Boston School painters. While Pond Lilies certainly makes reference to the painter's Boston roots, it nonetheless reflects Graves' own Impressionist style and love of the place he ultimately called his home.
Graves began painting at an early age and like many of his colleagues travelled to Paris in 1884 to study art. During this first visit, Graves secured his love and skill for painting--particularly flowers--as well as his friendship with fellow artist Edmund Tarbell. Upon his return to Boston, Graves taught painting with the well-known Impressionist painter Childe Hassam, with whom he shared the love of flower gardens and sun-filled landscapes.
In 1891 Graves journeyed to Kennebunkport. Shortly thereafter he purchased his first house and by 1906 had built a large home for himself and his family. The artist became immediately involved in both the social and civic aspects of the Kennebunkport community, as well as painting the town's landscape and people. As the artist himself said of his home, "I love the place, the quaint characters and buildings, the stories, the old wharves--they are all dear to me. I love the people, too; there is a peculiar geniality about these people who are willing to adopt any sort of character of costume to help me paint a picture." (quoted in J. Butler, Abbott Fuller Graves, 1979)
According to Joyce Butler, the Boston Sunday Post published a full-page article about Graves on May 4, 1913. A photograph of Pond Lilies was featured, along with a picture of the artist working on his most recent canvas. This dates Pond Lilies to 1912 or 1913.
Further, one of the women in the painting is a native Kennebunkport resident named Doris Ward, who is depicted in a flat-bottomed boat on Observatory Pasture Pond. Named for a wooden observatory tower erected in 1825, the pasture and pond was a favorite spot for residents of Kennebunkport.
Pond Lilies, while typical for Graves in terms of subject matter, is somewhat atypical for the artist. The influence of his early years painting in Boston and Paris with Hassam and Tarbell is clearly seen in this canvas. Unlike his classic flower pictures, Graves seems particularly inspired by the light, atmosphere and technique of the Boston School painters. While Pond Lilies certainly makes reference to the painter's Boston roots, it nonetheless reflects Graves' own Impressionist style and love of the place he ultimately called his home.