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Heade's depictions
of the sea are characteristically disquieting, with harsh, cold
light, jutting rocks, and dark, empty water. Seascape: Sunset
is a prime example in a series of coastal views painted by Heade
in the 1860s, all apparently stimulated by the Rhode Island
coast. Intent on conveying mood and capturing the fleeting,
often hostile elements of nature, Heade sacrificed realistic
representation, while elongating form, distorting perspective,
and exaggerating color contrasts. The soft ribbons of the clouds,
chosen to reinforce the horizontal rhythms of the composition,
are a signature of Heade's work. The incoming waves, frozen
in time at the peak of cresting, contribute to the surreal effect. |
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In the late 19th century, many
American Artists were drawn to Venice with its dazzling light,
exotic aura and colorful appearance. The Fisherman's Wedding
Party is the culmination of Moran's ability to capture
the luminous city. While using a light, cool palette to render
the atmosphere of the lagoon, the artist focuses on the colorful
fishing boats that were one of the marvels of the city.
Moran was so impressed by Venice
that he shipped an ornate gondola back to his home in East
Hampton, Long Island. He employed a Mohawk Indian, George
Fowler, to pole the gondola around the grounds as a popular
diversion for family and guests.
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