Skip to main contentProvenanceThe artist
Estate of the artist
Hirschl & Adler Galleries, Inc., New York, New York, by 1971
Dr. Philip Brewer, Columbus, Georgia, December 1980
Berry-Hill Galleries, Inc., New York, New York, 1986
Daniel J. Terra Collection, Chicago, Illinois, 1986 (gift of Berry-Hill Galleries, Inc.)
Terra Foundation for the Arts Collection, Chicago, Illinois, 1999
Exhibition HistoryPublished References
Lilla Cabot Perry
(American, 1848–1933)
Autumn Afternoon, Giverny
c. 1905–1909
Oil on canvas
Image: 25 3/4 × 31 7/8 in. (65.4 × 81 cm)
Frame: 32 3/4 × 39 × 4 in. (83.2 × 99.1 × 10.2 cm)
Frame: 32 3/4 × 39 × 4 in. (83.2 × 99.1 × 10.2 cm)
Credit LineTerra Foundation for American Art, Daniel J. Terra Collection
Object number1999.106
SignedUnsigned
InterpretationLilla Cabot Perry’s intensely colored Autumn Afternoon, Giverny shows a cluster of farm buildings nestled among trees on the far side of a field. A low ridge in the distance defines a gentle diagonal countered by the slope of the field against a line of dark foliage on its border. The late afternoon sun tints the trees a greenish gold and the shadows lavender.
Giverny, a rural village in Normandy, France, was the site of an important international artists' colony where Perry made significant sojourns during her career. This landscape long has been thought to date to one of her later stays, in 1905–7 or 1909, when a new colorism infused her paintings of outdoor subjects. Perry’s admiration for impressionism, the rendering of forms in terms of reflected light and color through divided strokes of bright color, dates back to her first encounter with the paintings of Claude Monet (1840–1926), whom she met on her initial visit to Giverny in 1889. With its high-keyed color and near-dissolution of forms in series of vigorous, patterned strokes that reveal pink and purple underpainting, however, Autumn Afternoon, Giverny demonstrates a departure from her relatively more realistic landscapes dated to around 1890. The boldly gestural brushwork and the dramatic tones of pink, purple, green, and gold hint at the artist’s awareness of more recent artistic experiments that elevated expression over representation.
The cheerful tones and cozy rusticity of Autumn Afternoon, Giverny, along with its late-afternoon setting, project something of Perry’s affection for a place where she and her family spent many happy, productive seasons. The village was surrounded by cultivated fields that, along with its farmhouses, attracted the attention of such artists as John Leslie Breck and Guy Rose, as seen in Rose's work in the Terra Foundation collection Giverny Hillside (TF 1992.2). In Autumn Afternoon, Giverny Perry pushed her engagement with impressionist technique to its fullest extent in fixing her personal impression of the village as a peaceful, unspoiled hamlet.
Giverny, a rural village in Normandy, France, was the site of an important international artists' colony where Perry made significant sojourns during her career. This landscape long has been thought to date to one of her later stays, in 1905–7 or 1909, when a new colorism infused her paintings of outdoor subjects. Perry’s admiration for impressionism, the rendering of forms in terms of reflected light and color through divided strokes of bright color, dates back to her first encounter with the paintings of Claude Monet (1840–1926), whom she met on her initial visit to Giverny in 1889. With its high-keyed color and near-dissolution of forms in series of vigorous, patterned strokes that reveal pink and purple underpainting, however, Autumn Afternoon, Giverny demonstrates a departure from her relatively more realistic landscapes dated to around 1890. The boldly gestural brushwork and the dramatic tones of pink, purple, green, and gold hint at the artist’s awareness of more recent artistic experiments that elevated expression over representation.
The cheerful tones and cozy rusticity of Autumn Afternoon, Giverny, along with its late-afternoon setting, project something of Perry’s affection for a place where she and her family spent many happy, productive seasons. The village was surrounded by cultivated fields that, along with its farmhouses, attracted the attention of such artists as John Leslie Breck and Guy Rose, as seen in Rose's work in the Terra Foundation collection Giverny Hillside (TF 1992.2). In Autumn Afternoon, Giverny Perry pushed her engagement with impressionist technique to its fullest extent in fixing her personal impression of the village as a peaceful, unspoiled hamlet.
Estate of the artist
Hirschl & Adler Galleries, Inc., New York, New York, by 1971
Dr. Philip Brewer, Columbus, Georgia, December 1980
Berry-Hill Galleries, Inc., New York, New York, 1986
Daniel J. Terra Collection, Chicago, Illinois, 1986 (gift of Berry-Hill Galleries, Inc.)
Terra Foundation for the Arts Collection, Chicago, Illinois, 1999
Exhibition History
An Exhibition of Paintings by Lilla Cabot Perry, Braus Galleries, New York, New York, November 1922, no. 16.
Spring Exhibition, Portland Society of Art, Portland, Maine, April 1–May 4, 1924.
Lilla Cabot Perry, Hirschl & Adler Galleries, Inc., New York, New York (organizer). Venues: Hunter Gallery of Art, Chattanooga, Tennessee, October 10–November 28, 1971; Arkansas Arts Center, MacArthur Park, Little Rock, Arkansas, December 3, 1971–January 2, 1972. [exh. cat.]
A Proud Heritage: Two Centuries of American Art, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, April 21–June 21, 1987. [exh. cat.]
Lilla Cabot Perry: An American Impressionist, The National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, D.C. (organizer). Venue: The National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, D.C., September 28, 1990–January 6, 1991. [exh. cat.]
Giverny: intérieurs, extérieurs (Giverny: Inside and Out), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, April 1–October 31, 2000.
Giverny au fil des saisons (Giverny in All Seasons), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, April 1–November 30, 2001.
D'une colonie à une collection: le Musée d'Art Américain Giverny fête ses dix ans (From a Colony to a Collection: Celebrating the Tenth Anniversary of the Musée d'Art Américain Giverny), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, March 30–June 16, 2002 (on exhibit extended run: March 30–November 30, 2002).
En Plein Air: American Painters in Giverny, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, March 8–May 25, 2003.
American Classics, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, December 13, 2003–February 8, 2004.
A Narrative of American Art, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, February 13–October 31, 2004.
Impressionist Giverny: A Colony of Artists, 1885–1915, Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venues: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, April 1–July 1, 2007; San Diego Museum of Art, San Diego, CA, July 21–October 14, 2007. [exh. cat.]
Impressionist Giverny: The Americans, 1885–1915, Selections from the Terra Foundation for American Art, Terra Foundation for American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venues: Florence Griswold Museum of Art, Old Lyme, Connecticut, May 3–July 27, 2008; Albany Institute of History & Art, Albany, New York, August 23, 2008–January 4, 2009.
Monet and the Artists of Giverny: The Beginning of American Impressionism, The Bunkamura Museum of Art, Tokyo, Japan with the Terra Foundation for American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizers). Venues: Kitakyushu Municipal Museum of Art, Kitakyushu, Japan, October 9–November 28, 2010; The Bunkamura Museum of Art, Tokyo, Japan, December 7, 2010–February 17, 2011; The Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art, Okayama, Japan, February 25–April 10, 2011. [exh. cat.]
Gallery Installation, Musée de impressionnismes Giverny, France, July 2012–November 2012; March 2013–November 2013; March 2014–November 2014; March 2015–November 2015.
The Studio of Nature, 1860-1910: The Terra Collection in Context (L’atelier de la Nature, 1860-1910. Invitation à la Terra Collection). Terra Foundation for American Art with the Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny (organizers). Venue: Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny, France, September 12, 2020–January 3, 2021. [exh. cat. in French]
Spring Exhibition, Portland Society of Art, Portland, Maine, April 1–May 4, 1924.
Lilla Cabot Perry, Hirschl & Adler Galleries, Inc., New York, New York (organizer). Venues: Hunter Gallery of Art, Chattanooga, Tennessee, October 10–November 28, 1971; Arkansas Arts Center, MacArthur Park, Little Rock, Arkansas, December 3, 1971–January 2, 1972. [exh. cat.]
A Proud Heritage: Two Centuries of American Art, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, April 21–June 21, 1987. [exh. cat.]
Lilla Cabot Perry: An American Impressionist, The National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, D.C. (organizer). Venue: The National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, D.C., September 28, 1990–January 6, 1991. [exh. cat.]
Giverny: intérieurs, extérieurs (Giverny: Inside and Out), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, April 1–October 31, 2000.
Giverny au fil des saisons (Giverny in All Seasons), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, April 1–November 30, 2001.
D'une colonie à une collection: le Musée d'Art Américain Giverny fête ses dix ans (From a Colony to a Collection: Celebrating the Tenth Anniversary of the Musée d'Art Américain Giverny), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, March 30–June 16, 2002 (on exhibit extended run: March 30–November 30, 2002).
En Plein Air: American Painters in Giverny, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, March 8–May 25, 2003.
American Classics, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, December 13, 2003–February 8, 2004.
A Narrative of American Art, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, February 13–October 31, 2004.
Impressionist Giverny: A Colony of Artists, 1885–1915, Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venues: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, April 1–July 1, 2007; San Diego Museum of Art, San Diego, CA, July 21–October 14, 2007. [exh. cat.]
Impressionist Giverny: The Americans, 1885–1915, Selections from the Terra Foundation for American Art, Terra Foundation for American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venues: Florence Griswold Museum of Art, Old Lyme, Connecticut, May 3–July 27, 2008; Albany Institute of History & Art, Albany, New York, August 23, 2008–January 4, 2009.
Monet and the Artists of Giverny: The Beginning of American Impressionism, The Bunkamura Museum of Art, Tokyo, Japan with the Terra Foundation for American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizers). Venues: Kitakyushu Municipal Museum of Art, Kitakyushu, Japan, October 9–November 28, 2010; The Bunkamura Museum of Art, Tokyo, Japan, December 7, 2010–February 17, 2011; The Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art, Okayama, Japan, February 25–April 10, 2011. [exh. cat.]
Gallery Installation, Musée de impressionnismes Giverny, France, July 2012–November 2012; March 2013–November 2013; March 2014–November 2014; March 2015–November 2015.
The Studio of Nature, 1860-1910: The Terra Collection in Context (L’atelier de la Nature, 1860-1910. Invitation à la Terra Collection). Terra Foundation for American Art with the Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny (organizers). Venue: Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny, France, September 12, 2020–January 3, 2021. [exh. cat. in French]
Atkinson, D. Scott et al. A Proud Heritage: Two Centuries of American Art. Edited by Terry A. Neff. (exh. cat., Terra Museum of American Art). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 1987. Pl. T-68, p. 177 (color).
Martindale, Meredith. Lilla Cabot Perry: An American Impressionist. (exh. cat., The National Museum of Women in the Arts). Washington, D.C.: The National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1990. Text no. 45, p. 152; pl. 34, p. 71 (color).
De Vries-Evans, Susanna. The Impressionists Revealed: Masterpieces from Private Collections. Auckland, New Zealand: David Bateman, Ltd., 1992. Ill. p. 136 (color).
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 pp. 59–60; fig. 51, p. 59 (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 pp. 59–60; fig. 51, p. 59 (black & white).
Weinberg, H. Barbara. American Impressionism. New York: Rizzoli, 1994. Fig. 2 (black & white).
Gomes, Rosalie. Impressions of Giverny: A Painter's Paradise 1883–1914. San Francisco, California: Pomegranate Artbooks, 1995. Text pp. 77, 114; pl. 49, p. 78 (color)
Joyes, Claire. The Taste of Giverny: At Home with Monet and the American Impressionists. Paris, France: Flammarion, 2000. Ill. p. 16 (color).
Mancoff, Debra N. Monet's Garden in Art. London, England: Frances Lincoln Limited, 2001. Ill. pp. 76–77 (color detail), p. 95 (color).
Bourguignon, Katherine M. and Elizabeth Kennedy. An American Point of View: The Daniel J. Terra Collection. Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 2002. Text pp. 116, 202–203; ill. pp. 117 (color), 202 (black & white).
Bourguignon, Katherine M. and Elizabeth Kennedy. Un regard transatlantique. La collection d'art américain de Daniel J. Terra. Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 2002. Text pp. 116, 202–203; ill. pp. 117 (color), 202 (black & white).
Bourguignon, Katherine M. et al. Impressionist Giverny: A Colony of Artists, 1885–1915. (exh. cat. Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for American Art, 2007. Text p. 210 (checklist); cat. p. 128 (color).
Bourguignon, Katherine M., Shunsuke Kijima and Sanjiro Minamikawa. Monet and the Artists of Giverny: The Beginning of American Impressionism. (exh. cat. Kitakyushu Municipal Museum of Art, The Bunkamura Museum of Art, Tokyo, and The Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art). Fukuoka, Japan: The Nishinippon Shimbun, 2010. Text cat. no. 34, pp. 85 (in Japanese), 184 (in English); ill. p. 85 (color), opposite p. 85 (detail) (color).
Bourguignon, Katherine and Valerie Reis. The Studio of Nature, 1860-1910: The Terra Collection in Context. (exh. cat, Terra Foundation for American Art with the Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny). Paris, France: Réunion des musées nationaux, 2020. Pl. 79, p. 143 (color).
Martindale, Meredith. Lilla Cabot Perry: An American Impressionist. (exh. cat., The National Museum of Women in the Arts). Washington, D.C.: The National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1990. Text no. 45, p. 152; pl. 34, p. 71 (color).
De Vries-Evans, Susanna. The Impressionists Revealed: Masterpieces from Private Collections. Auckland, New Zealand: David Bateman, Ltd., 1992. Ill. p. 136 (color).
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 pp. 59–60; fig. 51, p. 59 (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 pp. 59–60; fig. 51, p. 59 (black & white).
Weinberg, H. Barbara. American Impressionism. New York: Rizzoli, 1994. Fig. 2 (black & white).
Gomes, Rosalie. Impressions of Giverny: A Painter's Paradise 1883–1914. San Francisco, California: Pomegranate Artbooks, 1995. Text pp. 77, 114; pl. 49, p. 78 (color)
Joyes, Claire. The Taste of Giverny: At Home with Monet and the American Impressionists. Paris, France: Flammarion, 2000. Ill. p. 16 (color).
Mancoff, Debra N. Monet's Garden in Art. London, England: Frances Lincoln Limited, 2001. Ill. pp. 76–77 (color detail), p. 95 (color).
Bourguignon, Katherine M. and Elizabeth Kennedy. An American Point of View: The Daniel J. Terra Collection. Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 2002. Text pp. 116, 202–203; ill. pp. 117 (color), 202 (black & white).
Bourguignon, Katherine M. and Elizabeth Kennedy. Un regard transatlantique. La collection d'art américain de Daniel J. Terra. Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 2002. Text pp. 116, 202–203; ill. pp. 117 (color), 202 (black & white).
Bourguignon, Katherine M. et al. Impressionist Giverny: A Colony of Artists, 1885–1915. (exh. cat. Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for American Art, 2007. Text p. 210 (checklist); cat. p. 128 (color).
Bourguignon, Katherine M., Shunsuke Kijima and Sanjiro Minamikawa. Monet and the Artists of Giverny: The Beginning of American Impressionism. (exh. cat. Kitakyushu Municipal Museum of Art, The Bunkamura Museum of Art, Tokyo, and The Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art). Fukuoka, Japan: The Nishinippon Shimbun, 2010. Text cat. no. 34, pp. 85 (in Japanese), 184 (in English); ill. p. 85 (color), opposite p. 85 (detail) (color).
Bourguignon, Katherine and Valerie Reis. The Studio of Nature, 1860-1910: The Terra Collection in Context. (exh. cat, Terra Foundation for American Art with the Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny). Paris, France: Réunion des musées nationaux, 2020. Pl. 79, p. 143 (color).