Pastoral Scene (possibly 'Arcadia' or 'The Picnic')
Painting on canvas or panel • Maurice Brazil Prendergast (American, 1858–1924)
Style & Movement
American Post-Impressionism / The Eight (Ashcan School affiliate)
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas with a mosaic-like broken brushstroke technique, heavy impasto, and dabs of high-key pigment layered over darker grounds.
Creation Period
Circa 1910–1915
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 18 x 24 inches; landscape orientation.
Subject Description
A rhythmic, decorative figurative composition featuring stylized female figures in an outdoor setting with a central animal (likely a donkey or small horse). The work emphasizes flat pattern, color harmony, and a tapestry-like texture rather than traditional perspective.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good; the painting shows significant craquelure throughout and potential surface grime consistent with aged oil impasto.
Estimated Market Value
US $150,000 - $350,000 (Based on size and period)
Auction Estimate
US $100,000 - $200,000
Provenance History
Bearing the signature 'Prendergast' in the lower left corner. Likely moved through galleries specializing in American Modernism such as Macbeth Gallery or Kraushaar Galleries mid-century.
Art Historical Significance
Prendergast was the first American painter to truly grasp the color theories of Cézanne and the Nabis. This piece reflects his late, mature style where figures become decorative elements in a shimmering, flattened landscape.
Notable Features
Signature 'Prendergast' in block lettering; characteristic 'mosaic' technique where colors are applied in distinct, non-blended patches to create optical vibration.
Condition Issues
Visible network of stable craquelure. Thick paint layers may be prone to flaking 'cleavage' if not kept in a stable climate. Minor yellowing of varnish.
Conservation Recommendations
Non-aqueous surface cleaning by a professional conservator; UV-filtering glazing recommended for framing; maintenance of stable 45-55% relative humidity.