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Sotheby's New York, New York, February 13–14, 1974, lot 414
Associated American Artists, Inc., New York, as of 1976
Private collection, New York, until 1982
Davis & Langdale, Company, New York, New York, 1982
Daniel J. Terra Collection, Chicago, Illinois, 1982
Terra Foundation for the Arts Collection, Chicago, Illinois, 1992
Exhibition HistoryPublished References
Maurice Brazil Prendergast
(American, 1858–1924)
The Breezy Common
c. 1895–1897
Monotype with graphite on cream Japanese paper
Plate: 7 x 8 15/16 in. (17.8 x 22.7 cm)
Sheet: 11 x 14 15/16 in. (27.9 x 37.9 cm)
Mat: 22 x 16 in. (55.9 x 40.6 cm)
Sheet: 11 x 14 15/16 in. (27.9 x 37.9 cm)
Mat: 22 x 16 in. (55.9 x 40.6 cm)
Credit LineTerra Foundation for American Art, Daniel J. Terra Collection
Object number1992.74
SignedIn plate, lower right: ::Prendergast [note "d" and "g" are in reverse]
InterpretationMaurice Prendergast's The Breezy Common (CR 1658) is a cognate or second impression, evident in its comparatively pale colors, made from the same matrix as the monotype also entitled The Breezy Common (TF 1992.73, CR 1657). The green grass and blue sky are dull by comparison with the first impression taken from the inked matrix, and the colors of some of the running girls' frocks are faded to white. The figures grouped in the left foreground have retained their distinctive silhouettes but lost their vibrant colors. Clearly readable in the green-line border that frames the image is the inscription of the work's title and the artist's signature.
The title of this work refers not to the famous Boston Common but to that in suburban Franklin Park. Until 1896, the artist and his brother Charles Prendergast lived in Roxbury, a neighborhood adjacent to Franklin Park, the largest green space in a continuous string of parks designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted in the late nineteenth century. In the same years Prendergast was creating images of Franklin Park, he was also depicting the metropolitan area's newly renovated beaches. Such locations noted as settings for working-class leisure were among the artist's most important subjects.
Prendergast's fluid engagement with a single subject across various media is particularly apparent in his many treatments of the subject of Franklin Park. Examples include the oil painting Franklin Park, Boston (TF 1999.112), two watercolors entitled Franklin Park, Boston (TF 1999.111 and TF 1999.113), and another monotype entitled The Breezy Common (TF 1992.72; CR 1661). The similar compositions of the Breezy Common monotypes are based on a watercolor sketch from Prendergast's "Boston Water-color Sketchbook" (Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, CR 1478). The "Franklin Park" suite of monotypes is a subset of the series "Children at Play."
Other examples of cognates of Prendergast monotypes in the Terra Foundation collection are Going to School (TF1992.85, CR 1606) and Children in Street (TF 1992.77, CR 1605), and Primrose Hill (TF 1992.98, CR 1619) and Primrose Hill No. 2 (TF 1992.99, CR 1620). Other examples of "Children at Play" monotypes include Children at Play (TF 1992.75, CR 1653), Jumping Rope (TF1992.87, CR 1612), and Reflection (TF 1992.104, CR 1667). For more information, see Maurice Brazil Prendergast, Charles Prendergast: A Catalogue Raisonné (1990), to which the CR numbers for the monotypes noted above refer.
The title of this work refers not to the famous Boston Common but to that in suburban Franklin Park. Until 1896, the artist and his brother Charles Prendergast lived in Roxbury, a neighborhood adjacent to Franklin Park, the largest green space in a continuous string of parks designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted in the late nineteenth century. In the same years Prendergast was creating images of Franklin Park, he was also depicting the metropolitan area's newly renovated beaches. Such locations noted as settings for working-class leisure were among the artist's most important subjects.
Prendergast's fluid engagement with a single subject across various media is particularly apparent in his many treatments of the subject of Franklin Park. Examples include the oil painting Franklin Park, Boston (TF 1999.112), two watercolors entitled Franklin Park, Boston (TF 1999.111 and TF 1999.113), and another monotype entitled The Breezy Common (TF 1992.72; CR 1661). The similar compositions of the Breezy Common monotypes are based on a watercolor sketch from Prendergast's "Boston Water-color Sketchbook" (Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, CR 1478). The "Franklin Park" suite of monotypes is a subset of the series "Children at Play."
Other examples of cognates of Prendergast monotypes in the Terra Foundation collection are Going to School (TF1992.85, CR 1606) and Children in Street (TF 1992.77, CR 1605), and Primrose Hill (TF 1992.98, CR 1619) and Primrose Hill No. 2 (TF 1992.99, CR 1620). Other examples of "Children at Play" monotypes include Children at Play (TF 1992.75, CR 1653), Jumping Rope (TF1992.87, CR 1612), and Reflection (TF 1992.104, CR 1667). For more information, see Maurice Brazil Prendergast, Charles Prendergast: A Catalogue Raisonné (1990), to which the CR numbers for the monotypes noted above refer.
Sotheby's New York, New York, February 13–14, 1974, lot 414
Associated American Artists, Inc., New York, as of 1976
Private collection, New York, until 1982
Davis & Langdale, Company, New York, New York, 1982
Daniel J. Terra Collection, Chicago, Illinois, 1982
Terra Foundation for the Arts Collection, Chicago, Illinois, 1992
Exhibition History
American Master Prints IV, Bicentennial Collection, 1728–1910, Associated American Artists, New York, New York, March 22–April 17, 1976. [exh. cat.]
Maurice Prendergast: Art of Impulse and Color, University of Maryland Art Gallery, College Park, Maryland (organizer). Venues: University of Maryland Art Gallery, College Park, Maryland, September 1–October 6, 1976; University Art Museum, University of Texas, Austin, October 17–November 21, 1976; Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines, Iowa, December 1, 1976–January 2, 1977; Columbus Gallery of Fine Arts, Columbus, Ohio, January 14–February 20, 1977; Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, March 1–April 15, 1977. [exh. cat.]
Maurice Prendergast, Davis & Long Company, New York, New York, May 4–28, 1977.
The Monotypes of Maurice Prendergast: A Loan Exhibition, Davis & Long Company, New York, New York, April 4–28, 1979. [exh. cat.]
Monotypes by Maurice Prendergast from the Terra Museum of American Art, Terra Museum of American Art, Evanston, Illinois (organizer). Venues: National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., January 27–April 14, 1985; Terra Museum of American Art, Evanston, Illinois, April 27–June 30, 1985; Amon Carter Museum, Fort Worth, Texas, July 12–September 8, 1985; Williams College Museum of Art, Williamstown, Massachusetts, September 20–November 17, 1985; Flint Institute of Arts, Flint, Michigan, November 24, 1985–January 19, 1986; Oklahoma Art Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, January 28–February 24, 1986; Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, New York, May 13–June 15, 1986; Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, June 23–August 24, 1986; Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Montgomery, Alabama, September 2–October 26, 1986; The Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, Ohio, November 2–30, 1986; Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, Minnesota, December 13, 1986–February 15, 1987; Bass Museum of Art, Miami Beach, Florida, June 21–July 31, 1987; Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, Ohio, August 8–September 27, 1987; Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute, Utica, New York, October 4–November 5, 1987; Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November 15, 1987–January 7, 1988; Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, California, January 20–March 22, 1988; Carnegie Institute, Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, April 9–May 29, 1988. [exh. cat.]
The Work of Charles and Maurice Prendergast, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venues: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, March 16–April 21, 1991.
American Treasures: Chase, Whistler and the Prendergasts, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venues: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, April 26, 1996–January 5, 1997.
A Place on the Avenue: Terra Museum of American Art Celebrates 15 Years in Chicago, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venues: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, November 16, 2002–February 16, 2003 (on exhibit extended run: November 2, 2002–March 2, 2003).
Maurice Prendergast: Art of Impulse and Color, University of Maryland Art Gallery, College Park, Maryland (organizer). Venues: University of Maryland Art Gallery, College Park, Maryland, September 1–October 6, 1976; University Art Museum, University of Texas, Austin, October 17–November 21, 1976; Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines, Iowa, December 1, 1976–January 2, 1977; Columbus Gallery of Fine Arts, Columbus, Ohio, January 14–February 20, 1977; Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, March 1–April 15, 1977. [exh. cat.]
Maurice Prendergast, Davis & Long Company, New York, New York, May 4–28, 1977.
The Monotypes of Maurice Prendergast: A Loan Exhibition, Davis & Long Company, New York, New York, April 4–28, 1979. [exh. cat.]
Monotypes by Maurice Prendergast from the Terra Museum of American Art, Terra Museum of American Art, Evanston, Illinois (organizer). Venues: National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., January 27–April 14, 1985; Terra Museum of American Art, Evanston, Illinois, April 27–June 30, 1985; Amon Carter Museum, Fort Worth, Texas, July 12–September 8, 1985; Williams College Museum of Art, Williamstown, Massachusetts, September 20–November 17, 1985; Flint Institute of Arts, Flint, Michigan, November 24, 1985–January 19, 1986; Oklahoma Art Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, January 28–February 24, 1986; Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, New York, May 13–June 15, 1986; Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, June 23–August 24, 1986; Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Montgomery, Alabama, September 2–October 26, 1986; The Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, Ohio, November 2–30, 1986; Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, Minnesota, December 13, 1986–February 15, 1987; Bass Museum of Art, Miami Beach, Florida, June 21–July 31, 1987; Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, Ohio, August 8–September 27, 1987; Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute, Utica, New York, October 4–November 5, 1987; Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November 15, 1987–January 7, 1988; Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, California, January 20–March 22, 1988; Carnegie Institute, Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, April 9–May 29, 1988. [exh. cat.]
The Work of Charles and Maurice Prendergast, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venues: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, March 16–April 21, 1991.
American Treasures: Chase, Whistler and the Prendergasts, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venues: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, April 26, 1996–January 5, 1997.
A Place on the Avenue: Terra Museum of American Art Celebrates 15 Years in Chicago, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venues: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, November 16, 2002–February 16, 2003 (on exhibit extended run: November 2, 2002–March 2, 2003).
Sotheby's New York, New York (Sale 3630, February 13–14, 1974): lot 414. Ill. lot 414.
Edelstein, Annamarie, ed. Art at Auction: The Season at Sotheby Parke-Bernet 1973–1974. New York: Sotheby Parke-Bernet, 1974. Ill. p. 187.
American Master Prints IV, Bicentennial Collection, 1728–1910. (exh. cat., Associated American Artists). New York: Associated American Artists, 1976. Ill. no. 64. Green, Eleanor. Maurice Prendergast: Art of Impulse and Color. (exh. cat., University of Maryland Art Gallery). College Park, Maryland: University of Maryland, 1976. Text p. 86; ill. no. 9, p. 91 (black & white).
Langdale, Cecily. The Monotypes of Maurice Prendergast. (exh. cat., Davis & Long Company). New York: Davis & Long Company, 1979. Ill. no. 107, p. 143 (black & white).
Langdale, Cecily. Monotypes by Maurice Prendergast in the Terra Museum of American Art. (exh. cat., Terra Museum of American Art). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Museum of American Art, 1984. Text, pp. 25, 30, 33, 34, 38, 106; ill. no. 30, p. 107 (color).
"Experimentation with Modernism: Museum Exhibit to Display 55 Prendergast Monotypes." [North Adams] Transcript (September 13, 1985): 6. Text p. 6.
Clark, Carol, Nancy Mowll Mathews and Gwendolyn Owens. Maurice Brazil Prendergast; Charles Prendergast: A Catalogue Raisonné. Munich, Germany and Williamstown, Massachusetts: Prestel-Verlag and The President and Trustees of Williams College, 1990. No. 1658, p. 600; ill. no. 1658, p. 600 (black & white).
Edelstein, Annamarie, ed. Art at Auction: The Season at Sotheby Parke-Bernet 1973–1974. New York: Sotheby Parke-Bernet, 1974. Ill. p. 187.
American Master Prints IV, Bicentennial Collection, 1728–1910. (exh. cat., Associated American Artists). New York: Associated American Artists, 1976. Ill. no. 64. Green, Eleanor. Maurice Prendergast: Art of Impulse and Color. (exh. cat., University of Maryland Art Gallery). College Park, Maryland: University of Maryland, 1976. Text p. 86; ill. no. 9, p. 91 (black & white).
Langdale, Cecily. The Monotypes of Maurice Prendergast. (exh. cat., Davis & Long Company). New York: Davis & Long Company, 1979. Ill. no. 107, p. 143 (black & white).
Langdale, Cecily. Monotypes by Maurice Prendergast in the Terra Museum of American Art. (exh. cat., Terra Museum of American Art). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Museum of American Art, 1984. Text, pp. 25, 30, 33, 34, 38, 106; ill. no. 30, p. 107 (color).
"Experimentation with Modernism: Museum Exhibit to Display 55 Prendergast Monotypes." [North Adams] Transcript (September 13, 1985): 6. Text p. 6.
Clark, Carol, Nancy Mowll Mathews and Gwendolyn Owens. Maurice Brazil Prendergast; Charles Prendergast: A Catalogue Raisonné. Munich, Germany and Williamstown, Massachusetts: Prestel-Verlag and The President and Trustees of Williams College, 1990. No. 1658, p. 600; ill. no. 1658, p. 600 (black & white).