EDMUND TARBELL (American 1862-1938). Girl on a Pony. Oil on canvas. 30in. x 25in.. Signed lower left. Provenance: Vose G...

Description

EDMUND TARBELL (American 1862-1938)
Girl on a Pony
Oil on canvas
30in. x 25in.
Signed lower left
Provenance: Vose Galleries, Boston

Girl on a Pony is a rare example of Tarbell's early Impressionistic work inspired by his studies in France. Tarbell and Frank Benson studied in Paris at the Academie Julien where they learned rigorous draftsmanship but were also seduced by the bright colors and fluid brushwork of Impressionism. After returning to Boston this style earned Tarbell great acclaim as the father of the Boston School, election to the National Academy and a place among The Ten American Painters, an independent group consisting of the top American Impressionists including Childe Hassam, John Henry Twachtman and Willard Metcalf.

This work is a portrait of Tarbell's daughter seated on one of the family's stable of thoroughbred horses. It was most likely painted during one of Tarbell's summer visits to his inlaws in Plymouth between 1888 and 1910 with the style suggesting a date earlier in that range. Examples such as this show Tarbell's enthusiasm for plein air painting. The girl's white dress shimmers with color and the landscape is brilliant in the summer light. Tarbell's plein aire technique is evident in the roughly rendered pentimenti of the horse's head. After reworking several variations, the artist left the head rough to focus attention on the girl's sunlit face and golden hair. Paintings such as Girl on a Pony are rare glimpses of the artist painting for his own pleasure and are in stark contrast to his formal portraits and interior scenes.

Brian Roughton: Attribution is okay.

Gavin Spainerman: Attribution is okay.


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