Description:

John Prentiss Benson (American, 1865-1947) , "In Penobscot Bay", 1925, oil on canvas, signed lower left, signed, titled and dated en verso, titled and inscribed on stretcher, partial label with artist and title on reverse of frame, 30 in. x 36 in., Newcomb-Macklin frame. Note: Massachusetts-born artist John Prentiss Benson spent most of his career as a successful architect before deciding to pursue painting full-time in 1922. His lifelong fascination with ships of all kinds, spurred by his childhood spent in Salem in close proximity to the seaport, served as his main creative inspiration and resulted in an impressive body of maritime works – many of which remain unlocated today. Benson had almost immediate success with a group of paintings he sent to the Kennedy Gallery in New York. Of the nine works, six sold within a three-month time frame, and in the fall of 1923, Benson was invited by the gallery to be the subject of a solo exhibition. He would continue to experience success with his artistic endeavors, developing a strong following in the Northeast, particularly New York, Boston and Maine. At the age of sixty, Benson and his wife moved to Willowbank, one of the oldest houses in Kittery, Maine. Benson established a studio on the property and would paint from photographic memory. He kept a logbook of his works, detailing each one with a small photograph and handwritten notes. In Benson’s notebook, “In Penobscot Bay” is accompanied by notes indicating it was “sold on Feb 3 1926.” While the black and white photograph illustrating the piece appears to be lacking some of the necessary finishing details (such as the flags on the mast), it is very likely the artist would have added these elements after the photo was taken. “In Penobscot Bay” is a stirring composition featuring a pristine white vessel with inflated sales. The viewer can almost feel the wind and smell the sea spray as Benson so expertly conveyed the rushing feeling of coasting on the sea under a canopy of billowy white clouds. Ref.: Baker, Nicholas J. The Artistic Legacy of John Prentiss Benson Volume II. USA: Sheridan Books, Inc., 2004, pg. 115; Baker, Nicholas J. and Margaret M. Betts. John Prentiss Benson: American Marine Artist. Massachusetts: Baker Marine Publications, 2008

  • Condition: Condition is NOT stated in the description of the lot. The absence of a condition report does not indicate the lot is free of damage or condition issues. Available Condition Reports will appear as an additional image. Condition Reports and photographs may be requested on items until the Wednesday prior to the auction. Bid accordingly. All sales are final, no returns are accepted on the basis of condition.

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June 25, 2021 11:00 AM CDT
New Orleans, LA, US

Neal Auction Company

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