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Beach Scene with Boats

Maurice Brazil Prendergast

American Art

Whereas the other members of The Eight focused mainly on New York city scenes, Prendergast often painted the bathers at the public beaches around his native Boston. This seaside scene was abandoned midway, and years later Prendergast used the reverse side for a scene of five dancing figures. Unfinished works such as this one provide an excellent opportunity to study the technique of this brilliant and prolific watercolorist.
MEDIUM Watercolor and graphite on wove paper
  • Place Made: North America
  • DATES ca. 1896-1897
    DIMENSIONS Sheet: 14 1/4 x 20 3/4 in. (36.2 x 52.7 cm)  (show scale)
    SIGNATURE Unsigned
    COLLECTIONS American Art
    ACCESSION NUMBER 40.54b
    CREDIT LINE Dick S. Ramsay Fund
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION recto is watercolor "Composition with Five Figures," ca. 1910-1913 (40.54a)
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Maurice Brazil Prendergast (American, 1858-1924). Beach Scene with Boats, ca. 1896-1897. Watercolor and graphite on wove paper, Sheet: 14 1/4 x 20 3/4 in. (36.2 x 52.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Dick S. Ramsay Fund, 40.54b (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 40.54b_PS2.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 40.54b_PS2.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2005
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