Figures in a Landscape (Dancing Figures)
Painting on mounted support (likely panel or board) • Maurice Brazil Prendergast (American, 1858–1924)
Style & Movement
American Modernism / Post-Impressionism / The Eight
Medium & Technique
Oil on panel/board employing a heavy impasto technique with Post-Impressionist stippling and mosaic-like brushwork characteristic of the artist's late style.
Creation Period
Circa 1910-1920
Dimensions & Format
Estimated 10 x 14 inches; horizontal landscape format.
Subject Description
A festive, arcadian scene featuring stylized figures (likely women) in a park or wooded setting. The composition emphasizes rhythmic movement and decorative flattened space, typical of Prendergast's later interest in tapestry-like textures.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good; visible surface cracking (craquelure) and possible frame abrasion along the edges.
Estimated Market Value
$150,000 - $350,000 USD (dependent on size, history, and authentication)
Auction Estimate
$100,000 - $200,000 USD
Provenance History
Signature lower left 'Prendergast.' Likely passed through American galleries specializing in 20th-century modernism (e.g., Kraushaar Galleries) or private New England collections.
Art Historical Significance
Prendergast was a bridge between 19th-century American art and modern European influences. His work is significant for its early adoption of Cézanne's color theories and Matisse's decorative forms within the American 'Ashcan' context.
Notable Features
Distinctive 'tapestry' brushwork where color is applied in blocky, mosaic-like patches; bold dark-blue signature characteristic of the artist's final decade.
Condition Issues
Notable fine-line craquelure throughout the impasto areas; surface grime; minor pigment loss near the bottom edge and evidence of prior framing pressure.
Conservation Recommendations
Professional cleaning by a qualified conservator, stabilization of cracking paint layers, and mounting in a period-appropriate gold-leaf frame behind UV-protective glass.