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American Art and Pennsylvania Impressionists
|
- Sale 2105
Live
| Philadelphia
Dec 8 | 2:00 PM EST
Live
| Philadelphia
Sale 2105
| Philadelphia
| Philadelphia
Estimate$50,000 – $70,000
A leader of a second generation of Hudson River School painters, Alfred Thompson Bricher eschewed the majestic views of mountains and canyons favored by his peers, and instead directed his attention to the New England seashore, as exemplified by Monhegan Cliff, Maine, one of the largest works ever executed by the artist. Monhegan, situated off the coast of Maine, served as both muse and summer respite for the artist, inspiring a series of compelling works that showcased the island's sheer cliffs, pristine beaches, and dramatic interrelationship between light, landscape, and sea.
Bricher's views of Monhegan are characterized by a keen sense of atmosphere and meticulous attention to detail—seen here in the velvety greens of the landscape, translucent waves that crest and crash against the rocks, and cloud-filled skies overhead. His sensitivity to site conveys an attitude of both grandeur and isolation, inviting viewers to admire its ostensible beauty while contemplating the raw power of nature. His handling of light is particularly accomplished; breaking through an overcast sky, the sun casts a warm glow on the surface of the landscape and submerges its face in deep shadow. This interplay imbues the painting with a dynamic quality that celebrates, and quite literally foregrounds, Monhegan’s ever-changing weather.
At left, calmer waters prevail as Bricher turns his attention to the visitors who frequented the island. On the horizon, at some remove, a sailboat cruises. Bricher’s nuanced understanding of color is evident in subtle variations between the cool blues of the ocean and the blush-and-cream colored reflections that dapple its surface. Bathed in diffused light, the upper left quadrant of the painting exudes tranquility, and contrasts sharply with the tumult of the foreground. Monhegan Cliff, Maine pays homage to the unique topography of the island but also elevates it to a place where the sublime forces of nature are frozen in a moment of eternal beauty.
Provenance:
The Halley Collection, Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Collection of Mrs. Malcolm Taylor, Huntington, Connecticut.
Collection of Robert Weimann, Woodbridge, Connecticut.
Collection of Dean Levy, Scarsdale, New York.
Bernard Danenberg Galleries, Inc., New York, New York.
Acquired directly from the above, July 1970 (with funds provided by Eugene B. Sydnor, Jr., Richmond, Virginia).
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, Virginia (accession no. 70.21).
Lot Essay:
A leader of a second generation of Hudson River School painters, Alfred Thompson Bricher eschewed the majestic views of mountains and canyons favored by his peers. He instead directed his attention to the New England seashore, as exemplified by Monhegan Cliff, Maine, one of the largest works ever executed by the artist. Monhegan, situated off the coast of Maine, served as both muse and summer respite for the artist, inspiring a series of compelling works that showcased the island's sheer cliffs, pristine beaches, and dramatic interrelationship between light, landscape, and sea.
Bricher's views of Monhegan are characterized by a keen sense of atmosphere and meticulous attention to detail—seen here in the velvety greens of the landscape, translucent waves that crest and crash against the rocks, and cloud-filled skies overhead. His sensitivity to site conveys an attitude of both grandeur and isolation, inviting viewers to admire its ostensible beauty while contemplating the raw power of nature. His handling of light is particularly accomplished; breaking through an overcast sky, the sun casts a warm glow on the surface of the landscape and submerges its face in deep shadow. This interplay imbues the painting with a dynamic quality that celebrates, and quite literally foregrounds, Monhegan’s ever-changing weather.
At left, calmer waters prevail as Bricher turns his attention to the visitors who frequented the island. On the horizon, at some remove, a sailboat cruises. The artist's nuanced understanding of color is evident in subtle variations between the cool blues of the ocean and the blush-and-cream colored reflections that dapple its surface. Bathed in diffused light, the upper left quadrant of the painting exudes tranquility, and contrasts sharply with the tumult of the foreground. Monhegan Cliff, Maine pays homage to the unique topography of the island but also elevates it to a place where the sublime forces of nature are frozen in a moment of eternal beauty.
To request further details about this lot, please email [email protected]
Adam Veil
VP, Head of Department, American Art and Pennsylvania Impressionists
The wax-lined canvas in overall good condition, with very fine hairline craquelure throughout (which appears stabilized). With exposed tacking edges along the top and right outer edges. The stretcher has retained its original keys verso. Examination under UV light reveals sporadic remnants of old greenish varnish, which seems to have been selectively cleaned (see for example on the coast at center right). Minor inpainting in the upper right corner and at center right in the sky (pin-sized, and very small respectively). Thinly inpainted craquelure at center, just above the inlet. Minor repair in the sea at bottom center right, next to remnants of varnish splashes. Additional images available upon request.
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Please email [email protected] for any additional information or questions you may have regarding this lot.
