Figures and Horses (likely related to 'The Beach' or 'Promenade' series)
Painting on canvas (or potentially board/paper mounted to board) • Maurice Brazil Prendergast (1858–1924)
Style & Movement
American Post-Impressionism / The Eight (Ashcan School affiliate)
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas; employing a 'tapestry-like' technique with thick impasto, dabbing strokes, and flattened perspective typical of the artist's mature style.
Creation Period
Circa 1910–1918
Dimensions & Format
Estimated 18 x 22 inches; Landscape format
Subject Description
The painting depicts a festive, crowded scene of figures—primarily women in long dresses—interspersed with horses. The composition is arranged in horizontal bands, lacking a single focal point, which evokes the decorative quality of a frieze or tapestry. The subject typically reflects the leisure activities of the American middle class at the park or seaside.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good to Fair; visible surface texture suggests aging of the heavy impasto, and the image quality shows some potential yellowing of varnish.
Estimated Market Value
$150,000 – $400,000 (subject to authentication and medium confirmation)
Auction Estimate
$100,000 – $250,000
Provenance History
The signature 'Prendergast' is visible in the upper left corner. Likely passed through the estate of Charles Prendergast or a New York gallery like Kraushaar Galleries, which handled much of his work.
Art Historical Significance
Prendergast was a bridge between American Impressionism and Modernism. His unique mosaic-style brushwork was revolutionary in the early 20th century and influenced the shift toward abstraction in American art.
Notable Features
Bold, vertical signature in the upper left; mosaic-like paint application; high-key color palette characteristic of his later period after his 1907 trip to France where he was influenced by the Fauves.
Condition Issues
Possible craquelure in thick paint layers; potential surface grime; the frame appears modern and may not be archival.
Conservation Recommendations
Professional cleaning by a qualified conservator; examination under UV light to check for overpainting; reframing with acid-free materials and UV-protective glass.