Autumn Festival (also known as Group of Figures/Park Scene)
Painting on canvas or panel (likely a reproductive lithograph or print based on surface texture) • Maurice Brazil Prendergast (American, 1858–1924)
Style & Movement
Post-Impressionism / The Eight (Ashcan School connection) / American Modernism
Medium & Technique
Original in oil with thick impasto and mosaic-like brushstrokes; this specific image appears to be a textured lithographic reproduction or print-on-demand canvas
Creation Period
Original circa 1910-1915; this reproduction is likely mid-to-late 20th century
Dimensions & Format
Estimated 18 x 24 inches for original; reproduction size varies. Landscape format.
Subject Description
A dense, frieze-like composition of figures (mostly women and children) in a park or coastal setting. Includes a person on horseback, dogs in the foreground, and rhythmic arrangements of parasols and trees. The subject is leisure and the modern promenade.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Poor. Significant surface abrasion, peeling along the bottom edge, and loss of pigment/coating indicating it is a printed reproduction on a secondary support.
Estimated Market Value
$20 - $50 (Value as a decorative reproduction only)
Auction Estimate
$10 - $30 (As a decorative print with condition issues)
Provenance History
Original works in major museums (e.g., Whitney Museum of American Art); this specific item likely passed through general commercial retail or private residential decor.
Art Historical Significance
Prendergast was the first American painter to be influenced by Cézanne and the Nabis. His mosaic-like style bridged the gap between Impressionist light and Modernist structure, influencing the development of the 20th-century American avant-garde.
Notable Features
Features a printed facsimile signature 'Prendergast' in the lower left corner. The surface texture mimics the artist's famous impasto but is mechanically regular, a hallmark of mid-century art reproductions.
Condition Issues
Visible cracking and delamination of the top layer from the substrate. Severe edge wear at the bottom margin near the signature area. Color fading and possible moisture damage.
Conservation Recommendations
Non-archival materials and current degradation make professional conservation cost-prohibitive relative to value. Keep away from direct sunlight; frame behind UV-glass if preservation is desired for sentimental reasons.