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Lot Essay
A leading figure in American Art at the end of the nineteenth century, Frank W. Benson is recognized both as one of the principle artists of the Boston School, and as a member of the group of painters called "The Ten." Developing bold compositions of Impressionistic light and color, Benson often favored subjects of family members engaged in quiet, leisurely activities that defined their lives during the summer months.
Benson first visited North Haven in the Penobscot Bay region of mid-coast Maine in the summer of 1900. Immediately influenced by the light and landscape of the area, Benson soon bought Wooster Farm, an idyllic retreat that would become the background for many of his most successful works. His favorite subject's included his children, whom he often painted en plein air, capturing a spontaneous spirit, light, and emotion. Benson painted two works in the summer of 1902 depicting his daughter, Eleanor, holding a shell in the spruce woods behind Wooster Farm. John Wilmerding notes that "these paintings of Benson's family were personal works of devotion and celebration. Usually his sitters posed enjoying simple, fashionable pastimes-fixing a bowl of flowers, pausing in meadows, watching activities on the water...Impressionism's bright colors and breezy strokes perfectly matched both the happy mood of the belle epoque and the enduring appeal of the Maine atmosphere." (Frank W. Benson: The Impressionist Years, New York, 1988, p. 15)
Eleanor Holding a Shell reflects Benson's interest in observing and painting the light of the Maine coast as well as capturing his daughter's curious spirit as she gazes inquisitively into her recent discovery. The surface of Eleanor Holding a Shell is animated with vigorous brushstrokes of cool blues and greens that depict an afternoon retreat in the shade of a spruce forest. The lighter tones reflecting on Eleanor's face and dress reveal the filtered afternoon light that Benson found distinct to the coastal Maine area. The harmonious color scheme and bold composition of Benson's canvas represents a unique balance of figure and landscape. Confident works of this nature soon established Benson's reputation as a leading figure of American Impressionism. With its refined subject matter and sensitive execution, Eleanor Holding a Shell exemplifies the rarefied aesthetic of the Boston School, and affirms the place of Benson's North Haven paintings among his finest Impressionist works.
This work will be included in forthcoming catalogue raisonné of the artist's work being compiled by Vose Galleries of Boston.
Benson first visited North Haven in the Penobscot Bay region of mid-coast Maine in the summer of 1900. Immediately influenced by the light and landscape of the area, Benson soon bought Wooster Farm, an idyllic retreat that would become the background for many of his most successful works. His favorite subject's included his children, whom he often painted en plein air, capturing a spontaneous spirit, light, and emotion. Benson painted two works in the summer of 1902 depicting his daughter, Eleanor, holding a shell in the spruce woods behind Wooster Farm. John Wilmerding notes that "these paintings of Benson's family were personal works of devotion and celebration. Usually his sitters posed enjoying simple, fashionable pastimes-fixing a bowl of flowers, pausing in meadows, watching activities on the water...Impressionism's bright colors and breezy strokes perfectly matched both the happy mood of the belle epoque and the enduring appeal of the Maine atmosphere." (Frank W. Benson: The Impressionist Years, New York, 1988, p. 15)
Eleanor Holding a Shell reflects Benson's interest in observing and painting the light of the Maine coast as well as capturing his daughter's curious spirit as she gazes inquisitively into her recent discovery. The surface of Eleanor Holding a Shell is animated with vigorous brushstrokes of cool blues and greens that depict an afternoon retreat in the shade of a spruce forest. The lighter tones reflecting on Eleanor's face and dress reveal the filtered afternoon light that Benson found distinct to the coastal Maine area. The harmonious color scheme and bold composition of Benson's canvas represents a unique balance of figure and landscape. Confident works of this nature soon established Benson's reputation as a leading figure of American Impressionism. With its refined subject matter and sensitive execution, Eleanor Holding a Shell exemplifies the rarefied aesthetic of the Boston School, and affirms the place of Benson's North Haven paintings among his finest Impressionist works.
This work will be included in forthcoming catalogue raisonné of the artist's work being compiled by Vose Galleries of Boston.