Her mood a bit of a mystery. The needlepoint pillow conceals half her face, and she lies languidly on the Empire revival-style recamier couch.
The painting is called "The Green Cushion." He could have called it "Reclining Woman" or "Melancholy." The title signals that color is a factor, and indeed the green patch behind the woman sets off the pearlescent tones of her skin.
The painting, which won a prize at the American Watercolor Society's 1897 exhibition, is a feast of edges, contrasts, and accents, bringing to life the velvet cushions and silk dress. In addition to being an illustrator, he was a popular portrait painter.
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Website with more about Irving Ramsey Wiles
The painting is called "The Green Cushion." He could have called it "Reclining Woman" or "Melancholy." The title signals that color is a factor, and indeed the green patch behind the woman sets off the pearlescent tones of her skin.
The painting, which won a prize at the American Watercolor Society's 1897 exhibition, is a feast of edges, contrasts, and accents, bringing to life the velvet cushions and silk dress. In addition to being an illustrator, he was a popular portrait painter.
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Website with more about Irving Ramsey Wiles
Wikipedia about Irving Ramsey Wiles
4 comments:
Wiles’s plein air work is superb. A study in economy - of stroke, shape, color. Just brilliant with a brush. Have seen quite a few landscapes, still lifes, interiors and awed every time. Long ago read an article about him and the author concluded Wiles was heir apparent to Sargent but a victim of timing - that being his style falling out of favor. Is there any figuring of public taste?!
In the 'needlepoint pillow', there is an eye...another face? Is it an envious one?
That is some really pale skin. Love the handling of the velvet.
So beautiful...this motivates me to practice coloring fabrics in watercolor! Love the contrasts on her lower half of the dress
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