/ Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2013 http://archive.org/details/sixtypaintingsbyOOclar SIXTY PAINTINGS BY ALEXANDER H. WYANT described by Eliot Clark New York PRIVATELY PRINTED MCMXX \ Copyright, iqao. by Frederic Faircluld Sherman CONTENTS CONTENTS NO. TITLE PAGE 1 Mount Equinox 8 2 The Old Home:^ead 13 3 TKe Turbulent Stream 13 4 Mouth of tke Ausable River .... 14 5 Hopkins Peak, Keene, N. H 14 6 Coa^ Scene 19 7 Newport Rocks 19 8 Avalanche Lake 20 9 View in County Kerry, Ireland ... 25 10 TKe Flume, Opalescent River, Adirondacks 26 11 Autumn in the Woods 31 12 Adirondack Ledge 32 1 3 Forenoon in the Adirondacks .... 37 14 Keene Valley 38 15 Landscape 43 16 The Connecticut Valley 44 17 Landscape in the Adirondacks . . . . 49 18 In the Adirondacks 50 19 An ArkviUe Landscape 5^ 20 The Dawn 21 Landscape 56 22 Passing Shadows 61 23 Gray Day 62 24 Summer Grays 62 25 Landscape 67 26 Summer Landscape 68 27 A Gray Day 68 28 Sunset after Storm 73 29 Morning at Navesink 74 NO. TITLE PAGE 30 Autumn Afternoon jc^ 31 The Coming Storm 80 32 An Augu^ Day 80 33 Mountain Lake 85 34 Adirondack Solitude 86 3 5 Summer Silence 8b 36 Spring 91 37 A Wayside Pool 92 38 Housatonic Valley 97 39 Summer Evening 98 40 Landscape 98 41 Autumn in Ark ville 103 42 Adirondack Vi^a 104 43 November 109 44 A Gray Day 109 4 5 A Wet Afternoon 113 46 Keene Valley 114 47 TKe Broad Silent Valley 119 48 November Day 120 49 In tKe Hollow 120 50 Any Man's Land 125 5 1 Silver Birches . 1 26 52 V/ood Interior 126 5 3 Moonligkt and Fro^ 131 54 Woodland Study 132 5 5 Rocks with Waterfall 132 56 Afternoon 137 57 TKe Lonely Farmhouse 137 58 An Old Beeck i 38 59 Drifting Clouds 143 60 Passing Shadows 144 SIXTY PAINTINGS BY ALEXANDER H. WYANT [I] MOUNT EQUINOX Height, 12 inches; width, 1614 inches A complete and representative example of the early period, painted in the manner of the Diisseldorf scKool tKen in vogue. In subject it follows tKe roman? tic idea of primitive wildness and grandeur. A Keavy storm approaches, the vaporous clouds obscuring the mountain as it rises to the right. In the di^ance, the snow?covered peak of Mount Equinox is touched by warm, pinkish light. Across the ^ream the nearer plane is in sombre shadow in contra^ to the cool grays and indii^incft forms where the rain is faUing beyond. In the fore* ground the ledge of rock that borders the ^ream catches the light, and from the embankment a group of trees with gnarled roots, rising to the top of the canvas, terminates the composition. It is thinly painted on a non;absorbent ground, over a monotone drawing in brown. The detail is ren? dered with photographic precision. The lights are warm gray, introducing opaque white; the moun* tains are bluesgray ; the nearer plane is in warm green and brown. Signed on rock in left foreground, A. H. Wyant, 1866. 8 [2] THE OLD HOMESTEAD Height, 15 inches; width, 26 inches An early example, painted witk tke right hand, showing careful naturalistic ^udy and a keen obsers vation and rendering of form. From a rocky and rugged hillside, partly grown with trees in summer foliage, one looks over a valley with its winding ^ream below. A white farm house is seen among the trees to the right, and the gray top of a roof indicates another habitation. The color is in subdued grays, blue and green with contra:^ of brown. The painting is thin, with a con? scientious and camera^Hke fidelity to detail. Signed at the lower left, A. H. Wyant, 1869. [3] THE TURBULENT STREAM Height, 11 inches; width, 17^ inches A ^ream rapidly flowing over massive rocks winds its troubled way downwards from the mouns tain tops. The Hght hits the white water as it falls, forming a central and effective contrast to the steep banks that confine it. A dark stunted growth, to the left, forms a picturesque silhouette against the sky. This is an early example. It is thinly and carefully painted over a brown, modulated, transparent under* tone, with little interest or variation in the color. Signed at the lower right, A. H. Wyant. 13 [4] MOUTH OF THE AUSABLE RIVER Height, 15 inches; width, 25 inches This canvas is particularly interesting to the stu? dent as showing tke direct evidence oftKe painter s work from nature at tkis time, without later modifica* tion. TKe first plane is defined by a dark stone fence wKicK runs abruptly across tbe picture. The country beyond slopes toward Lake Cbamplain. Signed at the lower left, A. H. Wyant. Inscribed at the right with the wooden end of the brush in the wet paint, "Mouth of the Ausable River, Aug. 20 72." FORMERLY OWNED BY THE LATE GUSTAV REICHARD. [5] HOPKINS PEAK, KEENE, N. H. Height, 10 inches; width, 14 inches In tbe fall of tbe year. Tbe mountain, seen in faint sunligbt, is placed in tbe upper part of tbe picture. To tbe left it is obscured by clouds indicating a flurry of snow; wbile above is a faint note of blue sky. In tbe middlesground a mass of dark trees leads to tbe rigbt over a bill. A patb leads along tbe billside on wbicb are seen two bunters witb dogs. In tbe fore* ground is a patcb of grass still green, witb late flows ers, and beyond, covering tbe bill, withered grasses. Although an early example (painted probably before '69), it shows hints of Wy ant's later color. Signed at the lower right, A. H. Wyant. COLLECTION OF MR. A. P. COLL. 14 [6] COAST SCENE Height, 12 inches; width, 20 inches It IS a clear day. TKe sky is unclouded. From an inland elevation one looks out to tKe blue sea, and the suggestion of white waves breaking against di^ant rocks. TKe first plane is terminated by a massive gray ledge of rocks below wKicK a stream flows seaward. TKe horizon is broken by low scrub oaks on tbe further hills. Touches of yellow ochre, indicating withered grass, relieve the dominant green hue of the ground. Signed at lower left, A. H. Wyant. FORMERLY OWNED BY THE LATE GUSTAV REICH ARD. [7] NEWPORT ROCKS Height, 16 inches; width, 26 inches A barren rocky ledge runs diagonally across the composition, leading downwards to a roUing, rugged wind?swept shore, beyond which the sea horizon ter? minates the perspective. A schooner sails before the wind. The hard gray rocks are firmly drawn and masterfully modulated, while the ground, with its suggestive texture, gives them weighty support. This is evidently a study from nature, having all the char? acteristics of a particular place. Signed at the lower left, A. H. Wyant. COLLECTION OF MR. BURTON MANSFIELD. 19 [8] AVALANCHE LAKE Height, 36 inches; width, 60 inches A great mountain promontory rises abruptly at tke bend of a deep flowing river. It is a gray day. Tke wind is blowing, tke clouds are flying, the ligbt is changing. From tke beigbts of tbe mountain slope a steep rocky gorge makes its rugged way to tbe cleared land below. A few tall trees rise under tbe protection of tbe massive cbfFs. Tbe composition runs diagonally across tbe canvas. Tbe ligbt and dark is finely arranged witb tbe introduction of clouds and cloud sbadows. Tbis varies tbe contrast of contour and adds greatly to tbe dominant action. There is a splendid relation between tbe qualities of tbe air, water and land, tbe resistant and tbe non-resistant. Tbis IS one oftbe triumphs oftbe painter's transitional period, and one of tbe strongest illustrative and real* istic examples which be ever produced. Its size gives it an additional and impressing grandeur. The tone is built up with variations of gray, graysgreen, brown, and gray=:blue. Signed at the lower right, A. H. Wyant. COLLECTION OF MR. W. S. LADD. 20 [9] VIEW IN COUNTY KERRY, IRELAND Height, 26 inches; width, 40 inches A cloud skacJow is tkrown over the central plane of the picture, becoming lighter in value and more local in color as it nears tke foreground. In the dis* tant, illumined plane, an arid range of mountains is pictured in rugged relief against tke sky. A lake re* fleeting tke cool colors of tke sky attracts tke attention to tke foreground, to tke rigkt of wkick, under tke skelter of a massive ledge of gray rocks, is a peasant's kut witk tkatcked roof of reddisk kue and wkite* wasked walls. Tke foreground is in gray green, broken by a rock wkick leads tke eye of tke spectator to tke rigkt, and is taken into tke picture again by tke rocky ledge and tke small patk leading to tke open door of tke nouse. Tke sky is broken by clouds wkick are arranged in tkree planes. Tke first plane, in skadow, is out* kned against tke second plane in ligkt, wkile tke grays blue in tke center, and at tke edge of tke frame, indi? cate tke tkird plane beyond. Tke tecknique is quite free and direct, witk very Uttle under ^painting. Signed at the lower left, A. H. Wyant. METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART. 25 [10] THE FLUME-OPALESCENT RIVER -ADIRONDACKS Height, 47 inches; width, 35J^ inches A Stream flows between tke rocky, precipitous sides of a mountain gorge. The ligHt is concentrated upon the white water in the center oftke composition to tlie left of wKicK rises perpendicularly a massive overhanging rock. The waterfall above is confined to its narrow way by dark cliffs between wbicb one has aVs like vista of the clouded sky. A touch of blue tells of the sun which casts a soft warm, yellowish light over the upper wood^grown ravine. V/arm browns and deep rich greens of wet clinging moss concentrate the attention to the rocks in the center, while in the foreground some vegetation of a blues green color grows from the earth in the crevices of the rocks. The pine trees above are in deep greensbrown. The paint is applied directly over a modulated under* tone of transparent brown, the cooler colors being added with a full brush, the shad ows kept warm and thin. This picture testifies to the ^rong realistic founda= tion on which the later work of Wyant was based. Freed from the more picayune manner of the earlier efforts, it shows the artist as an able and competent painter and a well=trained draughtsman. It is a faiths ful and forceful representation of a particular place. Signed at the lower left, A. H. Wyant. EVAKS COLLECTION, NATIONAL GALLERY, WASHINGTON. 26 [11] AUTUMN IN THE WOODS Height, 4854 inches; width, 36^ inches In a partially cleared wood, wKere the slender beecli and birck trees Kave been left standing, two trees rise, columnlike, from tbe first plane, wkicb is in shadow, their foUage decorating the upper termi* nation of the canvas. The vista through the trees shows the sunlit ground, above which the contour of the more distant trees creates an effective design again^the sky. ReaUstically rendered, the composis tion is nevertheless carefiilly conceived and harmonic ously balanced. Wyant painted several pictures about this time (in the early eighties) of a similar sub? ject, one of which still remains uncompleted, but in which the form is fully modulated in a transparent monotone. It indicates how important form was to the painter at this period. The trees are in full foli* age, the color is in variations of green and brown broken by the silvery grays of the tree trunks and sky. Signed at the lower right, A. H. Wyant. COLLECTION OF MR. HAROLD I. PRATT. 3^ [12] ADIRONDACK LEDGE Height, 42^/^ inches; width, 33^^ inches Tall slender trees, from wKicK tKe leaves Kave partly fallen, rise on either side of tKe canvas to its termination above. Between tKe trees some small busKes and evergreens, partly in sKadow, bring out by contrast tKe ledge of rock beyond, above vv^KicK tKe sky indicates tKe cKanging ligKts of tKe day. A mountain brook occupies tKe immediate fore? ground. TKe tKeme is one of cKiaroscuro ratKer tKan color, tKe general tone being built up w^itK variations of gray, gray^blue, duU gold and neutral greens. TKe pigment texture Kas been carefully rendered and ims parts to tKe form a sense of substance and solidity. Painted in tKe early eigKties, tKis picture, as tKe size indicates, is an important example of tKat period. Wyant was not, Kowever, always Kappiest in Kis larger canvases, tKe great effort to produce wKicK was beyond Kis limited endurance. AltKougK emis nently cKaracteristic of tKe painter in its subtle ren= dering of cKiaroscuro and its temperamental and sen? sitive tecKnique, tKis picture combines two different tKemes, wKicK Ke later learned to treat separately. It Kas not tKat cKarming intimacy wKicK one at once feels wKen tKe sky is obliterated and tKe ligKt concen? trated on tKe ledge, nor Kas it tKat feeling of distance and aerial expanse tKat in many of Wy ant's pictures makes sucK an immediate and emotional appeal. Signed at the lower left, A. H. Wyant. COLLECTION OF MR. GEORGE S. PALMER. 3^ [13] FORENOON IN THE ADIRONDACKS Height, 33 inches; width, 42% inches The color sckeme is in neutral kues of blue, green and brown, and in a ligbter key tban most of Wyant's pictures. Tbe first plane is veiled in soft cloud sbadow, wbile tbe full ligbt of noon plays over tbe distant mountain valley. From tbe central foreground rises a stately beecb tree, firmly and fully modeled, its leaves deco= rating tbe upper part of tbe picture, tbe Kne of v^bicb is carried down on tbe rigbt by a dark massive group of trees indicating tbe edge of a forest. Tbe foreground, in variations of graysgreen and neutral brown, is given solidity and structure by care^ fully arranged pigment textures. Below tbe foreground plane a small lake is diss cerned, tbe distant bank of wbicb is bordered by a rocky ledge witb sparsely grown trees. In tbe extreme distance, a mountain is faintly seen tbrougb tbe summer baze, wbile notes of wbite smoke indicate forest fires. Tbe sky is veiled with delicate wbite cloud film, tbrougb wbicb is seen tbe gray?blue of tbe more diss tant sky. Signed at the lower left, A. H. Wyant, '84. HEARN COLLECTION, METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART. 37 [14] KEENE VALLEY Height, 18 inches; width, 30 inches In a rolling country a road winds its way to the valley beyond. To tKe rigkt a deep embankment is seen in sKadow, from tbe top of wkicb a group of dark trees breaks the sky line in prominent relief. TKe dif fused ligbt plays over tbe distant valley revealed in sKades of delicate gold, and blending into cooler Kues as it recedes to tbe far horizon. The light is concen? trated in the central sky where passing clouds catch the warm sunlight, while above clouds in cooler shadow repeat the Kne of the horizon. A touch or blue indicates the distant realm beyond. The colors in the shad ow of the first plane are variations of deep brown contrasted by neutral greens. The rocKS add touches of gray and accent the design. The scheme is more truly one of chiaroscuro than of color and the values and relation of light and dark are subtly ars ranged. It is very carefully painted and finely cons structed. / Signed at right of center, A. H. Wyant. PROPERTY OF THE BROOKLYN MUSEUM. 38 [15] LANDSCAPE Height, 36 inches; width, 60 inches An important and mature example, carefully cons ceived in composition, and built up gradually from heavy under^painting to the last light scumble and transparent glaze. The predominant value is consids erably lower than the gold of the frame; the color scheme is in variations of brown, warm grays and neutral greens, with occasional touches of more in? tense hues of red and blue^green in the foreground. On the right is a dark, massive and well^modulated tree, in the deep shadow of which one discerns a young girl with a red cap and scarf, followed by a dog. She is driving the cows homeward through the sun* lit meadow which occupies the central part of the picture. A rugged rock breaks the foreground at the left and emphasizes the sloping ground, while young trees rising above the horizon concentrate the atten? tion to the middle plane, which is in deep diffused shadow. In contrast, the sun;illumined lake makes a horizontal termination, beyond which the mountains ous distance is lost in a heavy graysblue atmospheric haze. The clouds move from right to left, the Hght being concentrated in the center with warm grays and indications of pearly blue sky beyond. Signed at the lower right, A. H. Wyant. CORCORAN ART GALLERY, WASHINGTON. 43 [16] THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY Height, 38 inches; width, 54 inches This is one of Wy ant's mo^ complete and impress sive canvases. The composition is noble and serene, the color rich and harmonious, the technique ample and adequate. The linear design is carried out by well?balanced and sensitively drawn tree forms which are seen in even and rhythmical silhouette again^ the sky. The fir^ plane is in shadow, the predomina* ting colors being blue green or emerande over an uns dertone of neutral browns, relieved by gray rocks which enforce the design. From the left a path leads to a massive leafy group of trees, through which the sky is indicated by Hghts which accentuate their great beauty of form. The warm afternoon Hght plays across the di^ant valley in lines of gray and gold contra^ing to the cooler colors of the foreground. A country house ne^les among the trees to the right. Creamscolored clouds float lightly over the va^ expanse of sky, which forms a background of gray=blue. The clouds in shadow are of darker value, and warm gray brown in color. Signed at the lower left, A. H. Wyant. COLLECTION OF MR. SAMUEL UNTERMEYER. 44 [17] LANDSCAPE IN THE ADIRONDACKS Height, 20% inches; width, 30% inches On tke left a group of trees is pidlured in dark res lief again^ a delicately illumined cloud. TKe fir^ plane is in sKadow colors of neutral brown and green, wKile tke soft ligKt, in variations of warm grays and gold, plays over tke meadow and distant Kills beyond. In tbe center a pool of water, refledting tbe sky, res lieves tbe more sombre colors of tbe foreground. Low, partly grown, trees balance tbe composition on tbe rigbt, below wbicb gray notes of outcropping rock give strudlure and solidity to tbe ground. Tbe sky is of gray, witb floating clouds of Hgbter and warmer bue and a sugge^ion of blue in tbe upper part of tbe sky to tbe left. Tbis is a typical and repres sentative example of tbe mature work of Wyant. It is fully and completely considered. Tbe textures are built up witb great care, and tbe value relations are subtly modulated to bring out tbe scbeme of cbiaross euro. Signed at the lower left, A. H. Wyant. HEARN COLLECTION, METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART. 49 [18] IN THE ADIRONDACKS Height, 2454 inches; width, 18 inches The efFedl of light and shadow, with its ever vary? ing changes, exercised upon Wyant an absorbing fascination. For him it had a mysterious charm quite apart ft?om its reaUstic significance. Comparatively few of his pictures are seen in full sunlight. Always the sky is clouded, and the sun casts a diffused radi? ance over the landscape. The color of the present example is particularly rich and beautiful. Although the predominant tone is a transparent golden brown, this is varied by an in* finite number of related hues, touches of yellow ochre, sienna and light red, while the turquoise blue, seen beyond the drifting moisture4aden clouds, gives a note of effedtive and exquisite contra^. This color is echoed in the foreground pool, where the grasses are touched with deep emerande green. The mountain vista seen through the trees is golden?hued; the light being heightened as it touches the warm gray rocks in the center of the composition and repeated in the slender birches, the foHage of which forms a deUcate halftone in gold. The light on the tall birch tree in the foreground is a beautiful bit of pigment quaHty, which has been caressed by the brush and palette knife, and over which in transparent color, contrasting hues have been drawn. The trees to the left make an effective pattern again^ the sky. Signed at the lower left, A. H. Wyant. 50 [19] AN ARKVILLE LANDSCAPE Height, 19^4 inches; width, 275^ inches Altkough this example has not tke charm of a freely handled transparent water color, it has, through the skilful use of opaque color, the complete fulness and volume which \Vyant obtained in his pidtures in oil. It is in a high key and has retained all of its origin nal delicacy and freshness. A group of trees in cool graysgreen colors is placed in the center of the canvas, to the right of which the gradually rising ground cuts again^ the sky. Signed at the lower left, A. H. Wyant. COLLECTION OF MR. W. H. ABERCROMBIE. [20] THE DAWN Height, 22 inches; width, 30 inches A charadleri^ic composition in which a decora* tive group of trees is seen at the left bordering a flat country broken only by scraggly bushes and field flowers. A pool refledting the sky occupies the im? mediate foreground, with gray rocks at the left. The solidity of the earth is exceptionally well realized. The sky is rendered with carefully arranged, but dchcate cloud forms. Signed at the lower left, A. H. Wyant. COLLECTION OF MR. GEORGE LINDSAY. 55 [21] LANDSCAPE Height, 36 inches; width, 60 inches A simple but impressive composition in whicK one feels the illimitable expanse of land and sky. A stream runs from tbe central foreground, winding tbrougb a flat, low4ying country, tbe borizon of wbicb extends in unbroken perspective. Tbe land slopes gradually upwards at tbe left, wbere a large oak tree breaks tbe sky line at tbe central plane. Tbe sun casts a golden glow over tbe extreme di^ance. Tbe fir^ plane, in sbadow, is painted in bues of brown and variations of gray and grayjgreen. Tbe sky is extremely fine. Sunsillumined clouds fly over tbe borizon, wbile tbe upper area is in sbadow. Tbe blue^green color of tbe clear sky is in striking and effective contra^ to tbe J redominating bues of gold and brown. Tbis is not only one of tbe large^ but one of tbe mo^ di^inguisbed of Wy ant's canvases. Signed at the lower left, A. H. Wyant. 5fo [22] PASSING SHADOWS Height, 26 inches; width, 39 inches TKe ligKt is difRised and varying, as indicated by the clouded and ever changing sky. It is a tkeme in neutral browns and greens of wKicb \Vyant was so fond and wbicK be so often repeated. Tbe subject is seen from a clearing on a mountain billside, tbe foreground of wbicb is broken by vari? colored leaves and grasses, and by tbe gray uncovered rock. Toucbes of warm surJigbt play bere and tbere, sbowing a patb leading downwards to tbe central plane, wbicb being in sbadow forms a darkborizontal barrier, tbe Hne of wbicb is varied by tbe rounded form of an oak tree rising before it. To tbe rigbt, a slender gracefully formed bircb tree is seen in ligbt outline again:^ a dark background of fir trees. Tbe foliage is indicated witb pbotograpbic precision. Tbe distant valley is batbed in warm sunligbt, and beyond, tbe undulating mountain range is in cool contra^ to tbe sky. Signed at the lower left, A. H. Wyant. COLLECTION OF THE LATE F. S. SMITHERS. 6l [23] GRAY DAY Height, 18^ inches; width, 24^ inches TKe contra:^ formed by the dark ground again^ tKe sky, the horizon of wkicK is placed frankly in the middle of tKe canvas, at once creates an impression of unvarying expanse. Note tke v^ay in wkicK tKe trees at tKe left start tKe rKy tKm and subtle interplay of line, wKicK altKougK breaking tKe Korizon empKasizes its desolate continuity. TKe center of tKe balance and point of focal concentration is just to tKe rigKt of tKe center. Signed at the lower left, A. H. Wyant. COLLECTION OF MR. SIDNEY CURTIS. [24] SUMMER GRAYS Height, 15% inches; width, 20^ inches A pool reflecting tKe gray of tKe sky leads into tKe pidture from tKe rigKt foreground. In tKe middles ground tKe ligKt slender trunks of two trees break tKe Korizontal Kne of tKe distant woods and come in dark relief against tKe sky. TKe land Kas been cleared, leaving a line of trees at tKe top of tKe slope wKicK ter? minates tKe perspective at tKe left. TKe clouds move diagonally to tKe rigKt in counteradlion to tKe stream in tKe foreground. Signed at the lower left, A. H. Wyant COLLECTION OF MR. SIDNEY CURTIS. 62 [25] LANDSCAPE Height, 3654 inches; width, 49 inches * It is a late afternoon in tKe early fall. TKe wind is blowing, and tke cloud shadows play over tke land^ scape. TKe ligKt is concentrated on tke flying clouds in the center of tke composition, in contra^ to wKick, on tke rigkt, is a massive group of trees in lines of deep krown and green. In tke central foreground is an in? dication of a meadow marsk witk cool green grass. To tke rigkt, gray rocks and field flowers catck tke kgkt. Beyond tke skadow tke difRised ligkt of tke di^ance is revealed in warm neutralized kues. Tkis IS one of tke great canvases of Wyant, in wkick tke ck aracteristics of our local landscape are expressed witk complete knowledge and loving inti* macy in a well?kalanced and imposing composition. It is keavily but freely painted. Tke ligkt clouds above tke korizon are warm cream color, toucked witk red, tke clouds of tke central area are warm gray, wkile tke dark clouds above are in kues of graysblue. Signed at the lower left, A. H. Wyant RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN, PROVIDENCE. 67 [26] SUMMER LANDSCAPE Height, 16 inches; width, 22 inches A group of trees rises from sloping ground at the right to the top of the canvas, while a woodland stream nestles quietly below, par tly lost in the shadow of the trees. To the left, tender trees grow above a rocky knoll, and beyond, the distant country stretches in golden sunHght. The sky is clouded, throwing a shadow over the foreground. Signed at the lower left, A. H. Wyant. THE LAYTON ART GALLERY, MILWAUKEE. [27] A GRAY DAY Height, 16 inches; width, 24 inches A charming example in grays and graysgreen. The composition is simple. From a flat meadowland two trees rise in dark pattern again^ the sky. The roof of a farm house is seen just beyond. The sunlight touches the di^ant horizon in lines of neutral gold, while the fir^ plane is in soft shadow colors of gray, blue, green and passages of brown, relieved by gray rocks in the immediate foreground. The cloud forms are tenderly modulated in various values of gray and a note of faint blue. Signed at the lower left, A. H. Wyant. COLLECTION OF MR. ROBERT HANDLEY. 68 [28] SUNSET AFTER STORM Height, 18 inches; width, 24 inches A group of pidluresque trees is seen in dark siUious ette against an evening sky, forming a stately and. im? posing pattern. The korizon is placed low on tke canvas. Dark clouds above confine tke Hgkt to tke left of tke center, in striking contra^ to wkick tke trees, in fij.ll foliage, rise to tke upper part of tke corns position and recede to tke rigkt. On tke left a group of low trees keeps tke eye of tke spectator firom go? mg out of tke picture. In tke central foreground a pool reflects tke kgkt sky. A patk leads from tke left? kand corner and is followed again, going over tke ris* ing ground keyond, tkus accentuating tke dominant rkytkmoftke composition. Tke tone is low in value. Tke color, altkougk not intense, is suggestive, being variations of deep browns and greens, relieved by tke warm sunset color of tke sky. Signed at the lower left, A. H. Wyant. 73 [29] MORNING AT NAVESINK Height, 18 inches; width, 30 inches WitKin tKe small dimensions of this canvas painter Kas given a perfect illusion of expanse and aerial perspective. TKe composition is oblong; tKe Korizon placed above tKe center. From an elevation one looks over a gradually decHning wooded country, to tKe valley indicated by tKe stream below. TKe Kills beyond recede into tKe uncertain atmospKeric Kaze. Fires, indicated by notes of rising smoke, accent tKe distant plane. A patK leads from tKe left fore= ground to a large rock, below wKicK is indicated a female figure witK wKite waist. A leafless tree breaks tKe Korizon on tKe left, wKHe on tKe rigKt tKe compo* sition is balanced by a group of low trees leading to tKe center, and sKowing tKe contour of tKe ground. TKe pidlure is gray in tone and tKe effedl depends not so mucK on color as relative values. Contrary to tKe traditional scKeme of centering tKe composition witK HgKt, Wyant in tKis pidlure Kas arranged Kis gradations to lead to a central dark. AltKougK delis cate in feeKng and efFedl, tKe painter Kas expressed tKe soKdity of tKe eartK and tKe encKanting cKarm of expanse. Signed at the lower right, A. H. Wyant, COLLECTION OF THE HON, W. A. CLARK. 74 [30] AUTUMN AFTERNOON Height, 40 inches; width, 50 Inches It is in the late afternoon. TKe warm diffused liglit filters tkrougK gray clouds, and toucKes tKe distance in Kues of subdued gold. TKe leaves kave commenced to turn and tKe green grass of summer Kas disaps peared. A small mountain brook runs quietly by tKe edge of a wood, refledting tKe foliage in Kues of brown and tKe sky in cool notes of gray. TKe sKadow of tKe fir^ plane is in low tones of brown contra^ed by emerande green. From tKe central foreground a slender bircK tree toucKed by golden ligKt reacKes to tKe top of tKe canvas, to tKe rigKt of wKicK a tree in fuller foliage blocks tKe vista. Gray rocks form tKe embankment of tKe stream, and tKis color is repeated at tKe left. TKe composition is not altogetKer Kappy, but tKe color is essentially cKaracteristic. Signed at the lower right, A. H. Wyant, 1885. 79 [31] THE COMING STORM Height, 16 inches; width, 20 inches Wyant seldom attempted the dramatic or efFedts of adlion. TKe present example is a studio ^udy of a natural effect impressed upon the mmd ofthe pamter. It has more spontaneity in the treatment than is usual with Wyant. It suggei^s Inness. The painting is quite thin, in places hardly more than a transparent wash over the raw canvas. The palette is simple: black, white; yellow ochre; light red ; and permanent blue. Signed at the lower left, A. H. Wyant. From the Wyant Sale, 1894. [32] AN AUGUST DAY Height, 14 inches; width, 17 inches A group of dark trees on the right throw a shadow over the hilltop, from which one sees the sunlit valley and dii^ant country below. The composition is cir? cular in its arrangement, the light being concen? trated in the center and the overhanging clouds trian* gularly breaking the corners ofthe canvas above. Two cows accent the central plane. The norizon IS lost in heavy atmosphere, above which ominous cumulous clouds indicate a change of weather. Signed at the lower right, A. H. Wyant. COLLECTION OF MR. GEORGE S. PALMER. 8o [33] MOUNTAIN LAKE Height, 20 inches; width, 30 inches From a KigK mountain clearing one looks downs ward over rugged rocky slopes to a lake wKicK, re= fleeting tKe cool sky, forms the note of central attrac* tion. TKe firmly modeled, rolling Kills terminate tKe sky line, to tKe rigKt of wKicK one Kas a glimpse of a more di^ant mountain range. Dark gray clouds in tKe upper part of tKe sky confine tKe attention to tKe ligKter creamscolored clouds tKat float over tKe nori5 zon. A group of trees to tKe left, tKe foliage of wKicK is ma^erfully mode led , form a cKaracteristic arrange^ ment. TKe ledge of rock tKat Kreaks tKe fir^ plane sKows tKe sensitive and nervous KandKng of tKe painter in Kis favorite Kues of gray. TKe pigment Kas Keen given sugge^ive texture to add solidity to tKe foreground. TKe sky is in deKcate sequences of gray Klue; tKe landscape in variations of Krownand gold, con traced by cool greens. Signed at the lower right, A. H. Wyant. 85 L34] ADIRONDACK SOLITUDE Height, 17 inches; width, 14^ inches A typical and temperamental V/yant in cKaracs teristic kues of gray, brown and neutral green. On tKe left a group of tall graceful trees is arranged in effedlive pattern again^ a clouded but luminous gray sky witb a toucK of blue binting of fair weatber. Tbe predominant colors of tbe first plane, wbicb is in sbadow, are dark green and brown. Tbe pigment is given texture to sugge^ form and solidity, and tbe glazing gives a ricb quality to tbe color. Signed at the lower left, A. H. Wyant. [35] SUMMER SILENCE Height, 35 inches; width, 28 inches A well-balanced classical composition of fine quals ity. Tbe foreground, in sbadow, is of subdued gray? green and brown. Two stately trees rise firom tbe firi^ plane, tbe foliage forming a pleasing pattern or foil, beyond wbicb is a typical mountain vista. Tbe sky is gray and pearl, witb small passing clouds sugs ge^ing tbe sun tbat tbrows its warm ligbt on tbe clear? ing below, forming an effedlive contrast to tbe middle distance, wbicb is in subdued sbadow. Signed at the lower left, A. H. Wyant. From the Wyant Sale. Formerly in the Hearn Collection. 86 [36] SPRING Height, 15 inches; width, 22^ inches A group of trees in early leaf rises from a hillside on tKe rigkt, wkicK slopes to a small lake in tke center, reflecting its shadowed embankment. Beyond, tKe undulating landscape recedes to the distant Korizon. It is painted in tender kues of warm gray^green, KeigKtened in tke ligkt, wkile the soft skadows are in cool greens, over krown. Tke sky, veiled witk film? like clouds, is in tints of warm gray, witk a suggestion of pearly klue keyond. Notes of cool reflected kgkt touck tke kuskes to tke rigkt. Tke pigment is keavily applied in tke foreground to give solidity and sugge^ detail. Signed at the lower left, A. H. Wyant. EVANS COLLECTION, NATIONAL GALLERY, WASHINGTON. [37] A WAYSIDE POOL Height, 20 inches; width, 30 inches An open landscape witK gray rock ledges on either side of a pool wKicK refledls the cool gray of the sky. The foreground, representing the uncultivated ran? dom of wild fields, is in varying hues of hrown and neutral hlue^green, the pigment texture suggesting naturahstic form. A row of trees, in shadow, appears in abrupt contra^ again^ the sky on the right, beyond which the di^ant Wretch of country is seen in faint warm sunlight. The sky, which unfortunately is not revealed in the reprodudtion, is exceptionally fine. The hght is concentrated on the clouds in the cen* tral area and emphasized by heavy pigment quaHty, bringing out in happy contrast the delicate ethereal field of azure beyond. One feels the ambient air, the solidity of the earth and the illimitable expanse of both. Signed at the lower right, A. H. Wyant. 92 [38] HOUSATONIC VALLEY Height, 24 inches; width, 36 inches A low4ying valley witK scattered trees and diss tant hills; clouds, faintly defined in hues of grayish blue, float languidly before the more di^ant area of ivory, becoming darker as tbey near tbe horizon. The trees on the right are in dark green, and this color is repeated in lighter hue with variations of ochre, in the shadow of the fir^ plane. The sunlight of the middle di^ance is of light gold and graysgreen. To the left a group of low trees balances the composition. Painted with a firee^flowing brush. Signed at the lower left, A. H. Wyant. EVANS COLLECTION, NATIONAL GALLERY, WASHINGTON. 97 [39] SUMMER EVENING Height, 14 inches; width, 22 inches Tke sun has passed beyond tke di^ant mountains and touches tke clouds above witk delicate kues of rose and gold. It is early autumn; tke leaves kave ckanged to a deep russet color, wkick is accentuated by tke v^arm glow of evening. A lake in tke middle ground refledls tke cooler note of tke upper sky. Tke dominant colors of gold and brown are kap? pily contra^ed by tke cool greens of tke foreground killside. Tkis is an exquisite example of rick vibrant tone, produced by tkin overspaintings and delicate, warm transparent glazes. Signed at the lower left, A. H. Wyant. [40] LANDSCAPE Height, 20 inches; width, 28 inches Tke fir^ plane is in skadow. On tke left, slender lacelike trees silkouette again^ tke sky, confining tke attention to tke center of tke canvas, wkere tke suns ligkt kits tke landscape in radiant kues of ockre. To tke rigkt a group of trees, witk pidluresque terminal tion, make tke contra^ more effedlive. Tke clouded sky skows signs of ckanging weatker. Signed at the lower left, A. H. Wyant. PROPERTY OF THE BROOKLYN MUSEUM. 98 [41] AUTUMN IN ARKVILLE Height, 20 inches; width, 28^4 inches A cold autumnal sky, witK Keavy graysbluc flying clouds, indicating wind. A distant glimpse of sun* ligkt in kues of ockre focuses attention at tke center oftke composition. Tke horizon cuts tke canvas ju^ below tke center, wkile it is crossed perpendicularly at tke rigkt by a group of trees, tke leaves of wkick kave been colored by early frosts. A slender leafless tree terminates tke group at tke left. A patkway leads into tke pidlure from tke rigkt, to tke left of wkick a pool refledls tke cool grays of tke sky. Tke fields are in kues of deep brown, reKeved by tke gray of outcropping rocks and occasional touckes of green. Tke tecknique is vigorous and fi^ee. Tke subjedt was repeated in tke larger picfture owned by tke Rkode Island Sckool of Design and also reproduced kere. Signed at the lower left, A. H. Wyant. EVANS COLLECTION, NATIONAL GALLERY, WASHINGTON. 103 [42] ADIRONDACK VISTA Height, 2454 inches; width, 18}4 inches A typical scene of an Adirondack mountan clear? ing, showing a valley wi til tKe di^ant gray mountain range wKicK confines it. On tKe rigKt tKe edge of woods runs perpendicu? larly out of tKe canvas, tKe termination or tKe trees forming a decorative and pidluresque pattern against tKe sky. A patK leads from tKe sKadow of tKe foreground to tKe warm, sunlit clearing beyond. TKe point of focal concentration is empKasized Ky tKe note of a wKite Kouse, before wKicK is a tree in sunligKt against a wooded background in sKadow. A group of trees at tKe left, tKe edge of wKicK is softened by a bircK in delicate Kalf tone, completes tKe composition. TKe sky is of silver gray witK toucKes of gray?blue, tKe nearby foliage is in Kues of brown and warm green, tKe ligKts are of ocKre color. Signed at the lower right, A. H. Wyant. COLLECTION OF MR. GEORGE S. PALMER. 104 « [43] NOVEMBER Height, 16 inches; width, 22 inches Contrary to tke usual pradlice of placing tke fore* ground in shadow, it is here seen in sunligkt. The dominant adtion follows tkis light from right to left and is then brought into the pidlure again by the di? recftion of the road and the white house at the extreme left. Dark trees above diredt the attention to the cens tral light where the hillside, in shadow, sloping up? wards to the right, forms an effective contra^ against the clouded sky. This little example is characteristic of the sensitive and decisive touch of the painter. Much of its charm is due to the well?considered texture and pigment quahty. Signed at the lower right, A. H. Wyant [44] A GRAY DAY Height, 18 inches; width, 22 inches A group of gnarled pidluresque trees, on which few leaves remain, appear again^ the sky at the left of the composition. The light is concentrated on a lake in the middle ground, in contra^ to which the first plane is placed in shadow. A range of rugged mountains form a di^ant barrier, above which the re^less clouds show signs of changing weather. The prevailing tone of the picture is gray, with gHmpses of pale blue in the 109 sky, touches of white in the clouds, blue in the water of the lake, green in the foreground and brown in the sparse fohage of the trees. The trees and a bush in Hne with them to the right are in shadow. Signed at the lower left, A. H. Wyant. COLLECTION OF MR. RALPH KING. no [45] A WET AFTERNOON Height, 26 inches; width, 39^ inches A row of young trees, in sKadow again^ a ligKt sky, runs diagonally toward the center oftKe canvas where tKe land extends in diminishing perspective. A glimpse of sky, under the trees to the right, enforces the dominant line, and is again echoed by the dark sky above, thus confining the focal point to the middle of the composition. A soft warm light from a clouded sun plays over the di^ance. The first plane is in shadow, reheved by a pool the form of which, leading into the pidture from the right, accents the rhythmic theme. The manner and method are typical of the later work of \Vyant. Signed at the lower left, A. H. Wyant. "3 [46] KEENE VALLEY Height, 35 inches; width, 28 inches From tKe shadow at the edge of a wood one looks under slender graceful trees, tlie leafage of wKicK decorates tKe upper part of the canvas, to a sunlit mountain vi^a beyond. A rippling brook flows to^ ward the spectator and occupies tbe immediate fores ground. At tbe left a graceful tree termination confines tbe attention to tbe central area of tbe composition. Signed at the lower left, A. H. Wyant. COLLECTION OF MR. CYRUS H. MC CORMICK. 114 \ [47] THE BROAD SILENT VALLEY Height, 6O54 inches; width, 50 inches One of the great works of Wyant, tKe purpose of wkicK is not merely to represent a locality but to ex* press tke mood of tke painter. It is akin to Rembrandt in its rick, full tonal quality and ckiaroscuro. Tke composition is simple, tke effedt impressive. A group of tall trees rise from tke left foreground to tke top of tke canvas. Tke fir^ plane is in skadow. Tke ligkt is concentrated on tke clouds in tke center of tke canvas above tke gold^illumined di^ance. A touck of ligkt in tke foreground indicates a marsk. Tkis is repeated by tke gray note of tke water bekind tke trees. On tke rigkt a rocky ledge and tke rise of ground wkick it forms, confines tke attention to tke center of tke composition. Tke predominating colors are variations of deep brown broken by bluesgreen. Tke clouds are of warm golden kue, contra^ed by tke blue?green of more dis* tant sky. Signed at the lower left, A. H. Wyant. HEARN COLLECTION, METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART. 119 [48] NOVEMBER DAY Height, 18 inches; width, 36 inches A prospedl of lake and di^ant country is seen from a cleared hillside wKicK forms tke firi^ plane. Dark, ominous wind=blown clouds hurry onwards. In strik? ing and dramatic contra^ to the di^ance, which is in deep shadow, the sun hits a white vaporous cloud, brought into further relief by a pidluresque group of trees to the right. A figure with white cap watches the approaching storm. Signed at the lower left, A. H. Wyant. [49] IN THE HOLLOW Height, lOVa inches; width, 17 inches* This is a mo^ interei^ing transcript from nature. The quiet and repose of the arti^'s soul has been rudely awakened by the rugged, wild and de^rudlive aspedt of nature. The quiet, soft di^ant vi^a disap? pears and the material earth cuts an insi^ent line again^ a menacing sky. It is in the fall; the wind is blowing. Scattered twigs and branches strew the ground. A group of young trees bravely resi^ the elements. One to the right has fallen. Signed at the lower left, A. H. Wyant. I20 I [50] ANY MAN'S LAND Height, 18]^ inches; width, 305^ inches One of tke mo^ dramatic and powerful pidlures painted by V/yant. A sense of tke unrelenting and irresi^ible force of nature is expressed in tke adtion of the clouds, tke dark ominous shadows, and tke mas^ sive rocks in tke sunlit di^ance. Dark clouds kurry korizontally across tke upper sedlion of tke composition. Tke sun kits tke central cloud area and casts its fleeting radiance over tke diss tant kills, wkick form a barrier to tke perspedlive. It is a desolate expanse of country, sparsely grown. A single tree in deep skadowis seen at tke left, and a ^ream winding tkrougk marsky land reflects tke sky in tke foreground. It is in tke fall of tke year. Tke predominant colors are brown, black and gray, tke di^ance yellow ockre and ligkt gray, witk a note of effedtive contra^ in a touck of blue^green in tke upper sky. Signed at the lower left, A. H. Wyant. COLLECTION OF MR. J. WILLIAM CLARKE. 125 [51] SILVER BIRCHES Height, 20 inches; width, 16 inches Illustrating the later metkod of sketching from nas ture, showing generaHzation of form and unity of ims pression, with free and expressive hrushwork. The arrangement has more to do with lighting than the disposition of the ohjedrs. Looking from an open space bordered on either side by tall slender birch trees, one sees the intricate forms of deep woods. The shadow is confined to the center of the canvas, from which a fir tree rises to the upper part of the canvas. Signed at the lower right, A. H. Wyant. [52] WOOD INTERIOR Height, 17 inches; width, 14 inches Three trees rise firom the shadow of the fir^ plane again^ the diffused light of the wood which forms the background. The sunsillumined rocks of the second plane form the high light. A touch of sky is indicated through the trees in the upper part of the pid:ure. Signed at the lower right, A. H. Wyant. 126 [53] MOONLIGHT AND FROST Height, 28 inches; width, 36 inches ApatK approacKes from the edge of a lake, tke diss tant skore of wkicK is faintly discernible. On tke rigkt a dark group of trees rises to tke top of tke cans vas. Tke full moon skines tkrougk vaporous clouds, casing an orbed radiance and diffusing its silvery ligkt over tke landscape. Above, tke clouds merge into tke indefinite forms of nigkt. It is freely painted over an unprepared canvas and lacks sometking of tke rick quality and deptk of tone seen in many of Wyant's pidlures produced by glazing. Tke color sckemc is in various tones of gray, gray^brov/n, and a sugge^ion of gray^purple in tke sky, in contra^ to wkick tke kalo surrounding tke moon is of a ligkt sil* very green^blue. Signed at the left, A. H. Wyant. PROPERTY OF THE BROOKLYN MUSEUM. [54] WOODLAND STUDY Height, 12 inches; width, 16 inches A late sketck from nature, particularly intere^ing for comparison with early ^udies. Here tke problem of light and relative values, of texture, surface quals ity and color assume a significance quite different from tke more pkotograpkic rendering of tke early ^udies from nature. Individual details are sacrificed to tke larger forms, tke realization of tke part to tke comprekension of tke wkole. As a result we see greater carrying power and volume, and tke subjec; tion of irrelevant detail. Signed at the lower left, A Sketch, A. H. Wyant. COLLECTION OF MR. CHARLES W. GOULD. [55] ROCKS WITH WATERFALL Height, 18 inches; width, 24 inches Altkougk tkis is an unfinisked pidlure, it is ex? tremely inter e^ing to tke ^udent of Wyant in exem* ing his metkod and manner of painting. Tke form is rendered carefully but vigorously in a trans? parent kue of burnt sienna, blue and emerande. Over tkis, tke cooler and more opaque color was added, tke ligkt being empkasized in tke waterfall. Tkis pic? ture was muck admired by Winslow Homer. Signed at the lower left, A. H. Wyant, 1881. FORMERLY OWNED BY THE LATE MR. GUSTAV REICHARD. 132 [56] AFTERNOON Height, 9 inches; width, 14 inches TKe composition is focused in the center, wKere tKe sloping ground of tKe middle plane is brought in abrupt contra^ to the di^ance and emphasized by a delicate cloud shadow. From a basinlike formation, the ground rises to the right, the undulating contour of which is accentuated by light ochre^gray outcropping rocks. A mountain, in faint pearly blue silhouette, forms the di^ant sky line. Signed at the lower right, A. H. Wyant THE MUSEUM OF ART, WORCESTER, MASS. [57] THE LONELY FARMHOUSE Height, 14J^ inches; width, 20J^ inches In an oblong composition the horizon is placed be? low the center of the canvas. The foreground is in shadow, relieved only by a note of sky color in a nearby pool, and a sugge^ion of outcropping rocks. A hedge of tender growth leads into the pidture from the left, above which a single tree is given promi? nence again^ the sky. The golden sunUt di^ance is emphasized by a low white house with open door, to the right of which is a group of protedling trees. Signed at the lower right, A. H. Wyant. From the Wyant Sale, 1894. COLLECTION OF THE HON. W. A. CLARKE. V [38] AN OLD BEECH Height, 16 inches; width, 22 inches Looking into a deep woods, the sKadow forming the central area, againstl wKicK a finely modeled beecK tree rises firom tKe foreground to tKe upper terminal tion of the canvas. TKe fir^ plane is in soft sunlight. Pigment texture plays an important part in the sugs gei^ion of the form. Signed at the lower left, A. H. Wyant. COLLECTION OF MR. W. A. WHITE. 138 [59] DRIFTING CLOUDS Height, 18% inches; width, 26 inches A supremely fine rendering of cloud form, painted thinly over a new canvas, witk firee brusKing and unrestrained enthusiasm. A flat barren country- stretches in unbroken expanse to the extreme diss tance, where low4ying hills catch the fleeting rays of golden sunlight. A dark pidluresque tree breaks again^ the sky at the right, while the central area is occupied by a marshland ^ream, reflecting the cool notes of the sky. The ground is laid in with a glaze of burnt sienna and black, over which the cooler greens and grays have been thinly painted. The sky is modeled almo^ in monotone, with accents of cream^white on the cen? tral clouds and graysbrown in the shadow. In the upper sky are indications of the clear blue beyond. Signed at the lower left, A. H. Wyant. COLLECTION OF MR. SIDNEY CURTIS. 143 [60] PASSING SHADOWS Height, 2854 inches; width, 35^4 inches TKe composition is extremely simple. TKe Korizon cuts the canvas somewhat below tKe center. On tKe rigKt is a dark group of trees, pidluresque in outline, sugge^ing Corot. TKe foreground is in skadow colors of neutral gray?green. Note the significant touches of dark, leading tKe eye from tKe rigKt. TKe sunKgKt of tKe fir^ plane is in warm Kues sugge^ing yellow ocKre, wKile tKe di^ance is in cloud sKadow. TKe sky is painted in variations of gray, tKe ligKt being concentrated on tKe large floating clouds in tKe center. To tKe left, fleecy clouds of darker Kue move slowly. A toucK of di^ant blue is effecftively placed in tKe upper part of tKe sky. Over a warm underground of transparent color, Keavy pigment was added to give quality of surface and texture. On tKis tKe painting was continued witK tKin opaque color, using medium. TKus tKe trees on tKe rigKt are very freely rendered, wKile tKe busKes tKat border tKeir edge are laid in sugge^ively witK tKe palette knife. Signed at the lower right, A. H. Wyant. COLLECTION OF MR. JACOB H. SCHIFF. 144 Two HUNDRED AND FIFTY COPIES OF THIS BOOK ON DUTCH HAND? MADE PAPER PRIVATELY PRINTED BY FREDERIC FAIRCHILD SHERMAN I I { ! I ! I i j i I 1 1 4