Art Bridges Collection

John Frederick Kensett
Beacon Rock, Newport

About

Called “the lyrical poet of American landscape art,” John Frederick Kensett was celebrated for his ability to imbue his paintings with a feeling of quiet beauty. His early work followed the tradition of the previous generation of American landscape painting, in which the natural world was depicted with rich detail. Beacon Rock, Newport, however, exemplified a later style that Kensett developed during his mature period, defined by a serene openness, simple compositions, muted palettes, and a keen understanding of light. Kensett was particularly skilled at painting maritime scenes, such as the coastline depicted in Beacon Rock, Newport.

Artist

John Frederick Kensett

Dimensions

18 × 30 in. (45.7 × 76.2 cm) Framed: 29 5/8 × 41 3/8 × 5 1/4 in.

Credit Line

Art Bridges

Date

1863

Medium

Oil on canvas

Object Number

AB.2018.13

Signed

lr: JFK

Provenance

to Anne Davison Low (Mrs. Abiel Abbot Low) [1819-1890], Brooklyn Heights, NY; Newport, RI, 1863-1864; by bequest to William Gilman Low (her son) [1844-1936], Bristol, RI, 1890; by bequest to Benjamin Robbins Curtis Low (his son) [1880-1941], NY; Bristol, RI, 1936; to William Gilman Low, Jr. (his brother) [1875-1945], 1939-1940; by bequest to Rhoda Low Seone (his widow) [1880-1967], Bristol, RI, 1945; by descent in the family until 1992; Private Collection, 1992; (Babcock Galleries, New York, NY), 2005; purchased by Barbara and Ted Alfond, Massachusetts, 2005; (Michael Altman Fine Art & Advisory Services, New York, NY); purchased by Art Bridges, TX, 2018