HENRY WARD RANGER (American, 1858-1916). On the Scheldt, Holland, 1885. Watercolor and gouache on paper. 15 x 23 inches ...

Description

HENRY WARD RANGER (American, 1858-1916)
On the Scheldt, Holland, 1885
Watercolor and gouache on paper
15 x 23 inches (38.1 x 58.4 cm)
Signed and dated lower left: H. W. Ranger 85

THE JEAN AND GRAHAM DEVOE WILLIFORD CHARITABLE TRUST

Henry Ward Ranger developed his signature brand of Tonalist marine and landscape painting in the Netherlands. Following his training at Syracuse University, he moved to New York City in 1878 where he saw his first Barbizon School paintings. He was inspired to moved to Europe, visiting Paris first, but then settling in Laren, Holland where he became active with the Hague School painters, Joseph Israels, Anton Mauve and the Maris brothers. Ranger was rapidly adopted by the Dutch painters and he quickly adopted their subjects and way of working. He sketched with the Hague School artists and learned to paint the quickly changing skies of the low counties. Because of the flatness of the land, the skies were important in Hague School paintings, and the cloud filled skies and diffused light became characteristic of Ranger's early work. The artist enjoyed living in the modest town, and his work advanced enough to be accepted by the Paris Salons by the late 1880s, and his work was accepted by leading Dutch collectors. This view of the Scheldt River dates from this period of his career.
Once back in the United States, Ranger became one of the leaders of the "Tonal" school of painting, and it is he who was given credit for coming up with the name "Tonalist." He is also notable for becoming the founding member of the Florence Griswold circle in the Lyme Art colony of Old Lyme, Connecticut.


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