| Object ID |
1989.61 |
| Object Name |
Painting |
| Dimensions |
H-84 W-42.5 inches |
| Early Date |
1901 |
| Late Date |
1901 |
| Description |
Frederick William MacMonnies studied art in New York, and worked for sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens and the architectural firm McKim, Mead and White. In 1884 he traveled to Paris, where he studied at the prestigious Ecole des Beaux-Arts. Known primarily as a sculptor, MacMonnies works are noted for their realism and naturalism. This was contrary to the popular neo-classical style of that period. His sculpture, Nathan Hale is on display in the adjacent Parmelee Gallery.
In 1900 MacMonnies turned briefly to painting, and produced a series of portraits. MacMonnies painted the artist May Suydam Palmer in Claude Monet’s famous garden at Giverny, France. In a letter dated September 3, 1901, he wrote, “May Palmer this morning—bless her dear little soul—begged me to paint her portrait. . . I’m going to paint Miss P if the sun holds out in the late afternoon, sunset on her red hair [blown] around, in her best Chinese gown and [tossed] by the winds on the alley walk to Monet’s boathouse.”
Another full-length portrait by MacMonnies can be seen in the Church Gallery. The artist portrayed Mary Sartell Prentice on the porch of her house in Old Bennington. |
| Credit |
Bequest of Cortlandt Palmer |
|
