Description:
The scene is Flabury Rectory on the River Avon in Worcestershire where Sargent stayed with his family in the summer of 1889. it was a red-brick house described by Vernon Lee, one of the house guests, as "a grest big old-fashioned house, with lawn going down to the Avon: beautiful & so fresh & peacful."
There is a photographic quality to the image, as the focus shifts between thesharp foreground and the blurred background behind the veil of trees. The figures are carefully delineated and characterised. Sargent's younger sister Violet, wearinga black fur cape and green hat is seated in the bow of the punt at the far right (she wears the same clothes in a single-figure punting study, "Autumn on the River," Private Collection). The body language of the man lying back in the canoe with his right leg hooked over the side and one hand under his head almost certainly identifies him as Paul Helleu. The Helleus were certainly identifies him as Paul Helleus. The Helleus were certainly at Fladbury at the time and the young woman who is intent on keeping her balnce as she steps out of the rowing boat is probably Helleu's wife, Alice. An unidentified rather ghostly figure, stands on the terraced lawns behind the willow trees, holding two punting poles. Underlying geometric form is less pronounced than in "Paul Helleu Sketching with his Wife", but there is structure to the picture, provided by the horizonalline of the red punt, the canoe and punt perpendicular to it and the delicate verticals of the trees and oars. The tapestry-like background, worked in small, broken brushstrokes in an autumnal palette, is reminiscent of Pissarro.
The picture was never exhibited and was in the artist's studio sale at Christie's as "Carlcot Mill, Near Reading: A Boating Party", but the location is certainly Fladbury.
You are viewing a giclee print. Each piece was created by a special process called "Giclee". Giclee is a computer generated print that is produced by the spraying of an image on to fine art paper. The inks used are specially formulated so that the fine print heads can spurt jets of ink in minute droplets. When prints are produced on fine art quality paper, the print should posses archival standards of permanence comparable or better than other collectible work.
You are viewing a hand colored print. The process begins with hand-pulled black & white decorative and antique reproduction prints. Each print is then individually designed and hand colored using the same methods of color application that were used throughout the 19th century, before modern color lithography. Individual artists meticulously paint each piece using the finest European watercolor paints on heavy mat, acid free, archival paper resistant to deterioration and discoloration. By combining old world craftsmanship with fresh design innovations, our artists create works of stunning depth and vibrancy that are absolutely beautiful and unique.
Limited editions are a series of identical prints, which are limited to a one-time printing of a certain number of pieces. The artist determines the size of the edition, and usually signs and numbers each individual piece. Limited edition prints framed by the Fulcrum Gallery are handled separately and given the utmost individual care and attention, using archival framing materials and practices. Because limited editions are in limited supply, and are of exceptionally high quality, the price is generally at a premium to regular open edition prints.
