The Watch, Eastern Shore, Prout's Neck (Primary Title)
Winslow Homer, American, 1836 - 1910 (Artist)
Here, a solitary Maine fisherman stands atop a rocky cliff dotted with small gnarled trees. The craggy promontory was likely inspired by the rocky coastline just a stone’s throw from the artist’s studio overlooking Saco Bay in Prout’s Neck. Against the low perspective and emphatically rendered sky, the figure appears vulnerable, recalling Homer’s experience in Cullercoats, a small fishing village in northeast England. The artist was profoundly stirred by the conditions there and the evidence of human struggle against the raw power of nature. This is one of the most dramatic and successful watercolors Homer produced.
at lower left: Homer 1894
on verso: Here you are / Big Thing / W.H.
James W. and Frances Gibson McGlothlin Collection
"American Art from the McGlothlin Collection" Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (1 May - 18 July 2010).
"Capturing Beauty: American Impressionist & Realist Paintings from the McGlothlin Collection," Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (19 May-18 Septemeber, 2005).
"Winslow Homer, A Retrospective Exhibition," Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (26 March - 3 May 1959): no. 130.
"A Loan Exhibition of Winslow Homer for the Benefit of the New York Botanical Garden," Wildenstein & Company, New York (19 February - 22 March 1947): no. 72.
"Winslow Homer," Worcester Art Museum, Worcester, Massachusetts (16 November - 17 December 1944): no. 57.
"Centenary Exhibition of Works by Winslow Homer," Carnegie Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (28 January - 7 March 1937): no. 105.
"Winslow Homer Centenary Exhibition," Whitney Museum of American Art, New York (15 December 1936 - 15 January 1937): no. 76.
"Exhibition of Works by Winslow Homer and John LaFarge," Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (25 June - 2 August 1936).
"Louis Prang's Collection Sold by Public Auction. Oil and Water-Color Paintings," Leonard & Co., Boston (28 November - 8 December, 1899): no. 848 as "Eastern Shore."
Doll & Richards, Boston (3 December 1894 - 12 January 1895): as "Man on the Mountain."
"Capturing Beauty: American Impressionist & Realist Paintings from the McGlothlin Collection," Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (19 May-18 Septemeber, 2005).
"Winslow Homer, A Retrospective Exhibition," Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (26 March - 3 May 1959): no. 130.
"A Loan Exhibition of Winslow Homer for the Benefit of the New York Botanical Garden," Wildenstein & Company, New York (19 February - 22 March 1947): no. 72.
"Winslow Homer," Worcester Art Museum, Worcester, Massachusetts (16 November - 17 December 1944): no. 57.
"Centenary Exhibition of Works by Winslow Homer," Carnegie Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (28 January - 7 March 1937): no. 105.
"Winslow Homer Centenary Exhibition," Whitney Museum of American Art, New York (15 December 1936 - 15 January 1937): no. 76.
"Exhibition of Works by Winslow Homer and John LaFarge," Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (25 June - 2 August 1936).
"Louis Prang's Collection Sold by Public Auction. Oil and Water-Color Paintings," Leonard & Co., Boston (28 November - 8 December, 1899): no. 848 as "Eastern Shore."
Doll & Richards, Boston (3 December 1894 - 12 January 1895): as "Man on the Mountain."
Some object records are not complete and do not reflect VMFA's full and current knowledge. VMFA makes routine updates as records are reviewed and enhanced.
