Three Sisters— A Study in June Sunlight

Item

Name
Three Sisters— A Study in June Sunlight
Summary
The subtitle of this first important Impressionist work by Edmund Tarbell is a clear indication of his interest in the new French style just recently introduced in America. The painting’s dappled light, brilliant palette, and short, textured brush strokes caused a sensation when it was exhibited in Tarbell’s hometown of Boston. The transient light and undiluted color create a warm atmosphere in which the figures are more solidly drawn. Posing his wife, her sisters, and his baby daughter in a lovely garden setting, Tarbell did not attempt probing portraits but instead sought to portray an affluent and tranquil way of life. The inclusion of the American colonial chair implies their New England heritage that underlies this seemingly French aesthetic. (Source: Excerpt from Collection Guide: Milwaukee Art Museum. Milwaukee: Milwaukee Art Museum, 2004, pp. 34, 70, cat. 51.)
Date
1890
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
35 1/8 × 40 1/8 in. (89.22 × 101.92 cm)
place of creation
Boston
Provenance
Purchased with funds from the State of North Carolina, 1973, and dedicated in memory of Moussa M. Domit, Director of the North Carolina Museum of Art (1974-1980), by the NCMA Board of Trustees, 2008
Identifier
M1925.1
Rights
No Copyright - United States
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