Park Scene, or Picnic with Horses (Detail)
Painting on paper or panel • Attributed to Maurice Brazil Prendergast (1858–1924)
Style & Movement
American Post-Impressionism / The Eight
Medium & Technique
Oil and tempera or watercolor with heavy impasto and stippled application
Creation Period
Circa 1910-1915
Dimensions & Format
Estimated 10 x 14 inches; landscape orientation
Subject Description
A fragmented composition featuring simplified figures and organic forms including horses and human figures in a park-like setting. The work utilizes a mosaic-like application of color common in Prendergast's later work.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good; visible surface craquelure and potential moisture damage along the bottom edge
Estimated Market Value
$150,000 - $350,000 (if authenticated as an original oil)
Auction Estimate
$100,000 - $250,000
Provenance History
Inscribed 'Prendergast' in the lower right; likely originally through the Kraushaar Galleries or similar estate handlers
Art Historical Significance
Prendergast was a bridge between American Impressionism and Modernism. This piece demonstrates his transition from watercolor to a more textured, avant-garde mosaic style inspired by the Nabis and Cézanne.
Notable Features
Distinctive vertical signature 'Prendergast' in idiosyncratic script; tapestried paint surface with saturated, broken color blocks.
Condition Issues
Network of fine cracking (craquelure) throughout the paint layer; visible staining and paper loss at the bottom margin edge; possible surface dirt.
Conservation Recommendations
Professional cleaning and stabilization of the craquelure; archival mounting with UV-protective museum glass.