Skip to main contentProvenanceThe artist
Berry-Hill Galleries, Inc., New York, New York
Terra Foundation for the Arts Collection, Chicago, Illinois, 1989
Exhibition HistoryPublished References
John Leslie Breck
(American, 1860–1899)
Yellow Fleurs-de-Lis
1888
Oil on canvas
Image: 17 7/8 × 21 7/8 in. (45.4 × 55.6 cm)
Frame: 27 1/2 × 31 3/8 × 4 1/2 in. (69.9 × 79.7 × 11.4 cm)
Frame: 27 1/2 × 31 3/8 × 4 1/2 in. (69.9 × 79.7 × 11.4 cm)
Credit LineTerra Foundation for American Art, Daniel J. Terra Collection
Object number1989.2
SignedLower left: JOHN L. BRECK '88
InterpretationJohn Leslie Breck’s Yellow Fleur-de-Lis brings the viewer eye-level with a row of iris plants rooted among short grasses, their flat, spiky blue-green foliage supporting delicate yellow blossoms. Crowding out the horizon, the irises appear as if glimpsed within a forest of their kind, indicated by the dense backdrop of vertical strokes of green and spots of yellow and by the muted quality of the natural light.
Breck painted Yellow Fleur-de-Lis during the second of five years in which he worked intermittently in Giverny, a rural village in the French region of Normandy. He was among the first generation of international artists drawn there by the presence of its most famous resident, painter Claude Monet (1840–1926), master of the vibrant brushwork, brilliant pure color, and contemporary subjects that characterize the mode known as impressionism. Breck was one of the few American visitors admitted to Monet’s private circle, along with compatriot and fellow artist Theodore Robinson, to whom Breck dedicated Yellow Fleur-de-Lis. Both men were deeply influenced by Monet’s impressionist technique, but Breck was also drawn to his most characteristic themes. Monet’s serial depiction of fields of yellow irises may well have inspired Breck to paint this subject. In 1888, in addition to Yellow Fleur-de-Lis, he painted Twilight (location unknown) and Giverny Landscape (private collection), each depicting a broad meadow of golden iris in bloom.
During the five years he painted in Giverny, Breck’s work ranged widely in style, from the thorough impressionism of such works as Garden at Giverny (In Monet’s Garden) (TF 1988.22) to the conservative tonal technique and religious overtones of Autumn, Giverny (The New Moon) (TF 1989.16). Yellow Fleur-de-Lis draws on both approaches. Its consuming focus on the rich color and vibrant texture of the natural world is realized through tactile brushwork that leaves the canvas ground exposed in places, especially along the upper edge. Breck’s technique suggests direct, on-site painting, according to impressionist practice, rather than creation in the studio from preparatory works. Yet he refrained from dissolving the illusion of nature in a swirling mass of distinct spots of color, in the manner of Monet; rather, Breck rendered the distinctive elegant forms of the iris blossoms and leaves as discrete, recognizable objects through his use of sharp line and subtle gradations of tone. In this respect, and in the foreshortening effect of the frieze-like screen of flat leaves in the compressed space of the image, Breck’s work also evokes an artistic source he may have shared with his mentor: images of the iris in the Japanese woodcut prints by such masters as Ando Hiroshige (1797–1858) and Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) that were enormously popular among western artists in the late-nineteenth century.
Breck painted Yellow Fleur-de-Lis during the second of five years in which he worked intermittently in Giverny, a rural village in the French region of Normandy. He was among the first generation of international artists drawn there by the presence of its most famous resident, painter Claude Monet (1840–1926), master of the vibrant brushwork, brilliant pure color, and contemporary subjects that characterize the mode known as impressionism. Breck was one of the few American visitors admitted to Monet’s private circle, along with compatriot and fellow artist Theodore Robinson, to whom Breck dedicated Yellow Fleur-de-Lis. Both men were deeply influenced by Monet’s impressionist technique, but Breck was also drawn to his most characteristic themes. Monet’s serial depiction of fields of yellow irises may well have inspired Breck to paint this subject. In 1888, in addition to Yellow Fleur-de-Lis, he painted Twilight (location unknown) and Giverny Landscape (private collection), each depicting a broad meadow of golden iris in bloom.
During the five years he painted in Giverny, Breck’s work ranged widely in style, from the thorough impressionism of such works as Garden at Giverny (In Monet’s Garden) (TF 1988.22) to the conservative tonal technique and religious overtones of Autumn, Giverny (The New Moon) (TF 1989.16). Yellow Fleur-de-Lis draws on both approaches. Its consuming focus on the rich color and vibrant texture of the natural world is realized through tactile brushwork that leaves the canvas ground exposed in places, especially along the upper edge. Breck’s technique suggests direct, on-site painting, according to impressionist practice, rather than creation in the studio from preparatory works. Yet he refrained from dissolving the illusion of nature in a swirling mass of distinct spots of color, in the manner of Monet; rather, Breck rendered the distinctive elegant forms of the iris blossoms and leaves as discrete, recognizable objects through his use of sharp line and subtle gradations of tone. In this respect, and in the foreshortening effect of the frieze-like screen of flat leaves in the compressed space of the image, Breck’s work also evokes an artistic source he may have shared with his mentor: images of the iris in the Japanese woodcut prints by such masters as Ando Hiroshige (1797–1858) and Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) that were enormously popular among western artists in the late-nineteenth century.
Berry-Hill Galleries, Inc., New York, New York
Terra Foundation for the Arts Collection, Chicago, Illinois, 1989
Exhibition History
American Painters in France, 1830–1930, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, June 14–September 3, 1989. [exh. cat.]
Impressions de toujours: les peintres américains en France, 1865–1915 (Lasting Impressions: American Painters in France, 1865–1915), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, June 1–November 1, 1992; April 1–October 31, 1993; April 1–October 30, 1994; April 1–October 31, 1995. [exh. cat.]
Giverny: une impression américaine (Giverny, An American Impression), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, April 1–November 1, 1998.
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.
Les impressionistes américains, de 1880 à 1915, Fondation de l'Hermitage, Lausanne, Switzerland (organizer). Venue: Fondation de l'Hermitage, Lausanne, Switzerland, June 7–October 20, 2002.
Giverny en fleurs (Giverny in Bloom), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, March 2–November 30, 2003.
Le Passage à Paris: les artistes américains en France, 1860–1930 (Passing through Paris: American Artists in France, 1860–1930), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, April 1–October 31, 2005. [exh. brochure]
Le Passage à Paris: les artistes américains en France, 1860–1930 (Passing through Paris: American Artists in France, 1860–1930), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, April 1–October 29, 2006. [exh. brochure]
In Monet's Garden: The Lure of Giverny, Columbus Museum of Art (Organizer). Venues: Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, Ohio, October 12, 2007–January 20, 2008; Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris, France, February 12–May 11, 2008. [exh cat.]
The American Impressionists in the Garden, Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art, Nashville, Tennessee (organiser). Venues: Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art, Nashville, Tennessee, March 13–September 6, 2010; Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa, Florida, September 24, 2010–January 3, 2011; Taft Museum of Art, Cincinnati, Ohio, February 18–May 15, 2011. [exh. cat.]
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]
John Leslie Breck: American Impressionist, Mint Museum, Charlotte, North Carolina (organizer); Venues: Mint Museum Uptown: September 18, 2021 – January 2, 2022; Dixon Gallery and Gardens, Memphis, Tennessee: January 22 – March 27, 2022; Figge Museum of American Art, Davenport, Iowa: May 28 – August 28, 2022. [exh. cat.]
Impressions de toujours: les peintres américains en France, 1865–1915 (Lasting Impressions: American Painters in France, 1865–1915), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, June 1–November 1, 1992; April 1–October 31, 1993; April 1–October 30, 1994; April 1–October 31, 1995. [exh. cat.]
Giverny: une impression américaine (Giverny, An American Impression), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, April 1–November 1, 1998.
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.
Les impressionistes américains, de 1880 à 1915, Fondation de l'Hermitage, Lausanne, Switzerland (organizer). Venue: Fondation de l'Hermitage, Lausanne, Switzerland, June 7–October 20, 2002.
Giverny en fleurs (Giverny in Bloom), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, March 2–November 30, 2003.
Le Passage à Paris: les artistes américains en France, 1860–1930 (Passing through Paris: American Artists in France, 1860–1930), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, April 1–October 31, 2005. [exh. brochure]
Le Passage à Paris: les artistes américains en France, 1860–1930 (Passing through Paris: American Artists in France, 1860–1930), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, April 1–October 29, 2006. [exh. brochure]
In Monet's Garden: The Lure of Giverny, Columbus Museum of Art (Organizer). Venues: Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, Ohio, October 12, 2007–January 20, 2008; Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris, France, February 12–May 11, 2008. [exh cat.]
The American Impressionists in the Garden, Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art, Nashville, Tennessee (organiser). Venues: Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art, Nashville, Tennessee, March 13–September 6, 2010; Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa, Florida, September 24, 2010–January 3, 2011; Taft Museum of Art, Cincinnati, Ohio, February 18–May 15, 2011. [exh. cat.]
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]
John Leslie Breck: American Impressionist, Mint Museum, Charlotte, North Carolina (organizer); Venues: Mint Museum Uptown: September 18, 2021 – January 2, 2022; Dixon Gallery and Gardens, Memphis, Tennessee: January 22 – March 27, 2022; Figge Museum of American Art, Davenport, Iowa: May 28 – August 28, 2022. [exh. cat.]
Corbin, Kathryn. "John Leslie Breck, American Impressionist." The Magazine Antiques 134 (November 1988): 1142–49. Pl. V (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. 146–47; pl. 14, p. 150 (color).
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. 146–47; pl. 14, p. 150 (color).
Gerdts, William H. Monet's Giverny: An Impressionist Colony. New York: Abbeville Press, 1993. Pl. 180, p. 244 (black & white).
Gomes, Rosalie. Impressions of Giverny: A Painter's Paradise 1883–1914. San Francisco, California: Pomegranate Artbooks, 1995. Text pp. 31, 112; pl. 19, p. 34 (color).
Finlay, Nancy, Bronwyn Griffith, and Nicholas Kilmer. Thomas Buford Meteyard. Un Américain chez les Nabis. (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 2004. Text pp. 11 (French), 63 (English); fig. 2, p. 11 (color).
Houston, Joe et al. In Monet's Garden: Artists and the Lure of Giverny. (exh. cat., Columbus Museum of Art in association with Musée Marmottan Monet). London, England: Scala Publishers, 2007. Text pp.56, 158 (checklist), ill. pl. 17, p. 71 (color)
Hill, May Brawley. The American Impressionists in the Garden. (ex. cat., Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art, Nashville, Tenessee). Nashville: Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art and Vanderbilt University Press, 2010. Text pp. 5, 119 (checklist); ill. pl. 2, pp. 32–33 (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. 59, p. 133 (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. 146–47; pl. 14, p. 150 (color).
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. 146–47; pl. 14, p. 150 (color).
Gerdts, William H. Monet's Giverny: An Impressionist Colony. New York: Abbeville Press, 1993. Pl. 180, p. 244 (black & white).
Gomes, Rosalie. Impressions of Giverny: A Painter's Paradise 1883–1914. San Francisco, California: Pomegranate Artbooks, 1995. Text pp. 31, 112; pl. 19, p. 34 (color).
Finlay, Nancy, Bronwyn Griffith, and Nicholas Kilmer. Thomas Buford Meteyard. Un Américain chez les Nabis. (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 2004. Text pp. 11 (French), 63 (English); fig. 2, p. 11 (color).
Houston, Joe et al. In Monet's Garden: Artists and the Lure of Giverny. (exh. cat., Columbus Museum of Art in association with Musée Marmottan Monet). London, England: Scala Publishers, 2007. Text pp.56, 158 (checklist), ill. pl. 17, p. 71 (color)
Hill, May Brawley. The American Impressionists in the Garden. (ex. cat., Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art, Nashville, Tenessee). Nashville: Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art and Vanderbilt University Press, 2010. Text pp. 5, 119 (checklist); ill. pl. 2, pp. 32–33 (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. 59, p. 133 (color).