Children Playing on the Beach
Painting on canvas (or canvas board) • Signed 'Ricci'; likely a Contemporary artist working in a Commercial Impressionist style
Style & Movement
Contemporary Impressionism / Plein Air Narrative
Medium & Technique
Oil paint applied with energetic, impasto brushstrokes and wet-on-wet technique
Creation Period
Late 20th to early 21st Century
Dimensions & Format
Small to medium scale, approximately 8x10 or 11x14 inches; Landscape format
Subject Description
Two young girls in white summer dresses and straw hats playing in the sand at the shoreline. The composition features a low horizon line with a bright blue sky, white clouds, and a yellow bucket in the foreground.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good to Very Good; visible fine-line surface cracking (craquelure) in the sky area
Estimated Market Value
$200 - $500 USD
Auction Estimate
$150 - $300 USD
Provenance History
Unknown; likely purchased from a retail gallery or estate sale. Signature indicates a widely produced commercial artist.
Art Historical Significance
A decorative work following the tradition of 19th-century beach scenes (e.g., Sorolla or Boudin), intended for domestic interior decoration rather than museum-level historical impact.
Notable Features
Distinctive fluid signature in the lower right; use of high-contrast yellow and red accents against a cool coastal palette; classic 'period-style' gilt frame.
Condition Issues
Visible surface craquelure in the upper right and center-left sky; potential yellowing of varnish; minor dust accumulation on the frame.
Conservation Recommendations
Professional cleaning to remove surface grime; check stability of the paint layer where cracking is visible; display away from direct UV light.