Antique 19thc Theodore Robinson Original American Impressionism Catskill Farmhouses Hudson River NY Oil Painting
Theodore Robinson (June 3, 1852 – April 2, 1896) was an American painter best known for his Impressionist landscapes. He was one of the first American artists to take up Impressionism in the late 1880s, visiting Giverny, in France; and developing a close friendship with Claude Monet. Several of his works are considered masterpieces of American Impressionism.
This is a rare and mature work by the artist, with impressionistic layering in the smallest details from the illuminated sky to the rocks along the shore. The subject is a wide view from above, of farmhouses along the shoreline of the Hudson River in the Catskills, New York; (and a lone sailboat on the Hudson River with a purple and pink reflective ocean and sky).
Theodore Robinson: A Pioneer of American Impressionism
Theodore Robinson (June 3, 1852 – April 2, 1896) was an American painter who was celebrated for his masterful Impressionist landscapes and his significant contributions to the spread of Impressionism in the United States. As one of the earliest American artists to adopt this movement in the late 19th century, Robinson is remembered for his close friendship with Claude Monet and for creating works that are now considered masterpieces of American Impressionism.
Early Life and Training
Born in Irasburg, Vermont, Robinson spent his childhood in Evansville, Wisconsin, before briefly studying art in Chicago. In 1874, he moved to New York City, where he attended the National Academy of Design and the Art Students League. Seeking further refinement, he traveled to Paris in 1876, studying under the influential Carolus-Duran and Jean-Léon Gérôme at the École des Beaux-Arts. His early works first exhibited at the 1877 Paris Salon, demonstrated a realist style that predated his Impressionist evolution.
After spending time in Venice and Bologna, he returned to the United States in 1879, establishing himself as a professional painter and art teacher in New York while focusing on realist depictions of domestic and rural life.
Impressionism and Giverny
Robinson returned to France in 1884 and immersed himself in the artistic community of Giverny, which had become synonymous with French Impressionism under Monet’s influence. By 1888, Robinson had developed a close friendship with Monet, who deeply impacted his artistic philosophy and technique. Robinson’s work from this period reflects a shift to traditional Impressionist methods, capturing the subtleties of light, color, and atmosphere.
Robinson stood out as Monet’s closest confidant among American artists in Giverny, often exchanging artistic critiques with him. Inspired by Monet’s work, Robinson created many of his most acclaimed paintings during this time.
Return to America
Robinson returned to the United States in 1892, intending to revisit Giverny but ultimately remaining in America. He accepted teaching positions at the Brooklyn Art School, Evelyn College, and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. He also conducted summer classes in Napanoch, New York, where he painted scenes of the Catskills and nearby canals.
Settling in New York City, Robinson joined the burgeoning community of American Impressionists, forming close friendships with artists like John Henry Twachtman and Julian Alden Weir. He spent time at the Cos Cob Art Colony in Connecticut, where he painted iconic boat and harbor scenes at the Riverside Yacht Club, which are considered some of his finest works. Despite his growing reputation, Robinson remained modest about his art and continued teaching to support himself.
Final Years and Legacy
In his final years, Robinson contributed essays on French art for the book Modern French Masters and wrote about Monet and the Barbizon painter Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot. In 1895, he returned to Vermont for a productive painting period and expressed plans to revisit Giverny. However, he passed away suddenly in April 1896 from an asthma attack at the age of 43.
Today, Theodore Robinson is celebrated as one of the pioneers of American Impressionism. His works are featured in major collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum. His meticulous diaries, preserved in the Frick Art Reference Library, continue to offer valuable insights into his artistic journey and his close connection with Monet, securing his place as a key figure in the transatlantic dialogue between French and American art.
Theodore Robinson
(1852-1896)
Executed Approximately 1892-1893
Approximately 8"X12". No frame.
Flaw/ small indention in the sky, as shown. The back has been patched to prevent pressure on the canvas, from further indention.
A mature work by the artist, the subject is a view of farmhouses along the shoreline of the Hudson River in the Catskills, New York; (and a lone sailboat on the Hudson River with a purple and pink reflective ocean and sky).
American Impressionist
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