Jasper Francis Cropsey (American, 1823-1900). Fishing by a Riverbank, 1875. Oil on canvas. 14-1/4 x 24-1/4 inches (36.2 ...

Description

Jasper Francis Cropsey (American, 1823-1900)
Fishing by a Riverbank, 1875
Oil on canvas
14-1/4 x 24-1/4 inches (36.2 x 61.6 cm)
Signed and dated lower right: J.F. Cropsey / 1875

PROVENANCE:
The artist;
Lucy and Edward B. Nisbet;
Lucy Peters Downing, by descent;
Lucy Downing Allardice, New York, by descent;
Betty Krulik Fine Art Ltd., New York, 2005 (as Fishing on a Riverbank, New Jersey);
Michael N. Altman, New York, by 2007 (as Fishing on a River Bank);
Questroyal Fine Art, LLC, New York, 2007;
Private collection, acquired from the above.

LITERATURE:
K.W. Maddox and A.M. Speiser, ed., Jasper Francis Cropsey: Catalogue Raisonné, 1885-1900, Vol. III, Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, 2019, p. 186, no. 1285.

"On the Housatonic, 1875 (NCF 1341) must be a closely related composition. The March 24-26, 1915, auction catalogue of the American Art Association in New York described the painting as follows: 'The river valley is a blaze of gorgeous autumn color. Entire trees are a brilliant mass of red, others are light and dark yellow, and grassy meadows glow in golden sunshine. The winding stream is silvery, and filled with colorful reflections; a man sits on the end of his boat on the bank at the left, and at the right four cows have sauntered into the water.' It is likely that Fishing by a Riverbank is also a scene of the Housatonic River. The composition resembles but is not identical to Cropsey's drawing, Housatonic River, August 15, 1845 (pencil on paper, 5 3/4 x 8 5/16 in.; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, M. and M. Karolik Collection). In the journal entry of that date, the artist wrote that 'after walking 2 miles I came suddenly upon a beautiful view not extensive but compact--possessing the elements of art & nature combined. I sketched it somewhat hastily --. . . on the Housatonic a short distance further on is another view nearly as beautiful on the same river.' Cropsey would frequently go back to earlier drawings for paintings at this time, and it was not unusual for him to make a replica of a composition the same year the original was painted." (K.W. Maddox and A.M. Speiser, ed., Jasper Francis Cropsey: Catalogue Raisonné, 1885-1900, Vol. III, Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, 2019, p. 186, no. 1285)


More information about Jasper Francis Cropsey. See also: Cropsey, Jasper Francis Artist.

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