Skip to main contentProvenanceThe artist
James W. Smith Jr., Louisville, Kentucky
Kraushaar Galleries, New York, New York
Susan and Herbert Adler, 1975
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 Opera Cloak
c. 1895–97
Monotype with graphite on cream Japanese paper
Plate: 8 x 4 in. (20.3 x 10.2 cm)
Sheet: 10 1/2 x 6 3/8 in. (26.7 x 16.2 cm)
Mat: 19 1/4 x 14 1/4 in. (48.9 x 36.2 cm)
Sheet: 10 1/2 x 6 3/8 in. (26.7 x 16.2 cm)
Mat: 19 1/4 x 14 1/4 in. (48.9 x 36.2 cm)
Credit LineTerra Foundation for American Art, Daniel J. Terra Collection
Object number1992.97
SignedIn plate, lower right: MBP [monogram]
InterpretationMaurice Prendergast's monotype The Opera Cloak (CR 1693) captures a red-haired belle wearing a black hat, a curling black boa, and a dramatic red cloak over her light-colored dress as she holds a black umbrella aloft. The artist used deliberate strokes of flat pigment to indicate the parasol and cape but more freely rendered the curving outline of the hat and the boa's tight curls. He carefully detailed the spotted fabric of the dress and the ruffles of the white petticoat, revealed in the motion of the woman's step or by a breeze. The setting is merely suggested in the blending of olive green near the top of the monotype with the pinkish-mauve of the lower backdrop to the figure. Beneath the woman's foot, a wide band of subtle pink suggests the floor or ground while also forming part of the line border with which the artist usually enclosed his monotype images.
The Opera Cloak relates to Prendergast's "Solitary Woman" series, which features a single female in fashionable outdoor attire, often titled (in early exhibition records) with reference to her garments or accessories. The artist made two versions of The Opera Cloak from the same matrix, this one and its cognate, or second impression, which bears the same title (Private Collection, CR 1694). In addition, he made yet another monotype called The Opera Cloak (William College Museum of Art, CR 1696). One of the three was included in the 1898 Boston Water Color Club exhibition and in Prendergast's Detroit Museum of Art exhibition in 1901. A woman who may be the same red-haired model as in The Opera Cloak appears in Lady in Pink (TF 1992.89, CR 1741).
On all these colored prints, Prendergast drew a variation of his usual monogram, with the M somewhat larger than the other initials. The slender gold frame enclosing this version of The Opera Cloak (not pictured) is a typical Prendergast style, which is hand-carved, painted with red bole clay, and water-gilded with gold leaf. While it is impossible to know which Prendergast brother actually carved the frame, it is likely the work of Charles Prendergast and may have been created specifically for this work. 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 Opera Cloak relates to Prendergast's "Solitary Woman" series, which features a single female in fashionable outdoor attire, often titled (in early exhibition records) with reference to her garments or accessories. The artist made two versions of The Opera Cloak from the same matrix, this one and its cognate, or second impression, which bears the same title (Private Collection, CR 1694). In addition, he made yet another monotype called The Opera Cloak (William College Museum of Art, CR 1696). One of the three was included in the 1898 Boston Water Color Club exhibition and in Prendergast's Detroit Museum of Art exhibition in 1901. A woman who may be the same red-haired model as in The Opera Cloak appears in Lady in Pink (TF 1992.89, CR 1741).
On all these colored prints, Prendergast drew a variation of his usual monogram, with the M somewhat larger than the other initials. The slender gold frame enclosing this version of The Opera Cloak (not pictured) is a typical Prendergast style, which is hand-carved, painted with red bole clay, and water-gilded with gold leaf. While it is impossible to know which Prendergast brother actually carved the frame, it is likely the work of Charles Prendergast and may have been created specifically for this work. For more information, see Maurice Brazil Prendergast, Charles Prendergast: A Catalogue Raisonné (1990), to which the CR numbers for the monotypes noted above refer.
James W. Smith Jr., Louisville, Kentucky
Kraushaar Galleries, New York, New York
Susan and Herbert Adler, 1975
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
[possibly exhibited] Water Color Club: Eleventh Annual Exhibition, Boston Art Club, Boston, Massachusetts, February 24–March 12, 1898 (perhaps as no. 84).
[possibly exhibited] Special Exhibition of Water Colors and Monotypes by Maurice B. Prendergast, Detroit Museum of Art, Detroit, Michigan, November 1901 (perhaps as no. 29).
Graphic Style of the American Eight, Utah Museum of Fine Arts, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, February 29–April 11, 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, Texas, October 17–November 21, 1976; Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines, Iowa, December 1, 1976–January 2, 1977; Columbus Gallery of Fine Art, 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.
American Drawings and Watercolors from the Collection of Susan and Herbert Adler, Neuberger Museum, College at Purchase, State University of New York, Purchase, New York, November 22, 1977–January 8, 1978. [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). Venue: 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). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, April 26, 1996–January 5, 1997.
(Re)Presenting Women, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, October 16, 2001–January 13, 2002.
Le Japonisme en Amérique: oeuvres sur papier, 1880–1930 (Japonisme in America: Works on Paper, 1880–1930), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, September 15-November 30, 2002.
Portrait of a Lady : peintures et photographies américaines en France, 1870–1915 (Portrait of a Lady: American Paintings and Photographs in France, 1870–1915), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, Giverny, France and Musée des Beaux-Arts de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France (organizers). Venues: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, Giverny, France, April 1–July 14, 2008; Musée des Beaux-Arts de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France, September 25, 2008–January 5, 2009 (exhibited in Bordeaux). [exh. cat.]
[possibly exhibited] Special Exhibition of Water Colors and Monotypes by Maurice B. Prendergast, Detroit Museum of Art, Detroit, Michigan, November 1901 (perhaps as no. 29).
Graphic Style of the American Eight, Utah Museum of Fine Arts, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, February 29–April 11, 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, Texas, October 17–November 21, 1976; Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines, Iowa, December 1, 1976–January 2, 1977; Columbus Gallery of Fine Art, 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.
American Drawings and Watercolors from the Collection of Susan and Herbert Adler, Neuberger Museum, College at Purchase, State University of New York, Purchase, New York, November 22, 1977–January 8, 1978. [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). Venue: 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). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, April 26, 1996–January 5, 1997.
(Re)Presenting Women, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, October 16, 2001–January 13, 2002.
Le Japonisme en Amérique: oeuvres sur papier, 1880–1930 (Japonisme in America: Works on Paper, 1880–1930), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, September 15-November 30, 2002.
Portrait of a Lady : peintures et photographies américaines en France, 1870–1915 (Portrait of a Lady: American Paintings and Photographs in France, 1870–1915), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, Giverny, France and Musée des Beaux-Arts de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France (organizers). Venues: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, Giverny, France, April 1–July 14, 2008; Musée des Beaux-Arts de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France, September 25, 2008–January 5, 2009 (exhibited in Bordeaux). [exh. cat.]
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. 11; ill. no. 1, p. 12 (black & white).
Reich, Sheldon. Graphic Styles of the American Eight. (exh. cat., Utah Museum of Fine Arts). Salt Lake City, Utah: Utah Museum of Fine Arts, University of Utah, 1976. Text p. 14; ill. no. 91, p. 53.
Gerdts, William H. "The Adler Collection." In American Drawings and Watercolors from the Collection of Susan and Herbert Adler. (exh. cat., Neuberger Museum). Purchase, New York: Neuberger Museum, College at Purchase, State University of New York, 1977. Text pp. vii, 64; ill. no. 34, p. 65.
Langdale, Cecily. The Monotypes of Maurice Prendergast. (exh. cat., Davis & Long Company). New York: Davis & Long Company, 1979. Text pp. 11, 13; ill. no. 65, p. 100 (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. 27, 35, 39, 112; ill. no. 33, p. 113 (color).
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. 1693, p. 611; ill. no. 1693, p. 610 (black & white).
Gerdts, William H. et al. Lasting Impressions: American Painters in France, 1865–1915. (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 1992. Text p. 95; fig. 93, p. 95 (black & white).
Gerdts, William H. et al. Impressions de toujours: les peintres américains en France, 1865–1915. (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 1992. Text p. 95; fig. 93, p. 95 (black & white).
Vanessa Lecomte, editor. Portrait of a Lady : peinture et photographies américains (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny and Musée des beaux-arts de Bordeaux). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for American Art, 2008. Text (checklist) p. 94.
Reich, Sheldon. Graphic Styles of the American Eight. (exh. cat., Utah Museum of Fine Arts). Salt Lake City, Utah: Utah Museum of Fine Arts, University of Utah, 1976. Text p. 14; ill. no. 91, p. 53.
Gerdts, William H. "The Adler Collection." In American Drawings and Watercolors from the Collection of Susan and Herbert Adler. (exh. cat., Neuberger Museum). Purchase, New York: Neuberger Museum, College at Purchase, State University of New York, 1977. Text pp. vii, 64; ill. no. 34, p. 65.
Langdale, Cecily. The Monotypes of Maurice Prendergast. (exh. cat., Davis & Long Company). New York: Davis & Long Company, 1979. Text pp. 11, 13; ill. no. 65, p. 100 (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. 27, 35, 39, 112; ill. no. 33, p. 113 (color).
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. 1693, p. 611; ill. no. 1693, p. 610 (black & white).
Gerdts, William H. et al. Lasting Impressions: American Painters in France, 1865–1915. (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 1992. Text p. 95; fig. 93, p. 95 (black & white).
Gerdts, William H. et al. Impressions de toujours: les peintres américains en France, 1865–1915. (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 1992. Text p. 95; fig. 93, p. 95 (black & white).
Vanessa Lecomte, editor. Portrait of a Lady : peinture et photographies américains (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny and Musée des beaux-arts de Bordeaux). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for American Art, 2008. Text (checklist) p. 94.