Young Boy on the Beach, Study for “En route pour la pêche” and “Fishing for Oysters at Cancale”

A study for one or both of two related paintings of Breton fisherfolk, John Singer Sargent's Young Boy on the Beach is a quickly painted record of a standing youth with one hand on his hip, turned partly sideways from the viewer to look out toward the sea. The tipped-up surface of the beach fills the background of the image up to a high horizon where shoreline, calm water, and light-filled sky meet as a backdrop to the boy's head. Wearing tan shorts, a white long-sleeved shirt, and a large brimmed straw hat, the boy looks resolutely out to sea, but in the finished paintings for which Sargent made this study, his face is mostly hidden behind a large basket carried by the leading figure in a procession of fisherwomen and one other child on their way to harvest the edible products of the sea.

At the start of his brilliant career, Sargent spent a productive two months during the summer of 1877 in the picturesque Breton fishing town of Cancale, on the northwest coast of France. His aim was to make sketches for an important work, his first major outdoor subject, which would command attention in important exhibitions in Paris and the United States. To suit the different audiences, Sargent painted two slightly different versions of the subject, the one for Paris entitled En route pour la pêche (Setting Out to Fish) (1878, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC), and the smaller version called Fishing for Oysters at Cancale (1878, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston), which may have begun as a preparatory sketch for the larger work. Both were well received by local critics. Sargent had chosen his subject with attention to current interest on both sides of the Atlantic in themes from peasant life, especially fisherfolk. In later works he painted other costumed types, such as Venetian beadstringers, Spanish dancers, Bedouin tribespeople, and even beggars, as in the romantic A Parisian Beggar Girl (TF 1994.14).

Along with Girl on the Beach (TF 1999.131), Breton Woman with a Basket (TF 1996.53), and Breton Girl with a Basket (TF 1999.129), Young Boy on the Beach is one of several painted sketches of individual figures that Sargent made on site. From Cancale he wrote to his sister Emily of his difficulties in finding models and then painting them on the beach surrounded by a crowd of onlookers. Despite such challenges, the studies are animated by lively, fluid brushwork and graceful poses. The exact process by which Sargent worked from the sketches to create the two finished compositions in the studio is unknown, but this study relates more closely to the Boston canvas, which appears to have been painted earlier.

Americans in Brittany and Normandy: 1860–1910, Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix, Arizona (organizer). Venues: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, September 24–November 28, 1982; Amon Carter Museum, Fort Worth, Texas, December 17, 1982–February 6, 1983; Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix, Arizona March 19–May 1, 1983; National Museum of American Art, Washington, D.C., June 10–August 14, 1983 (as Young Boy on the Beach: Sketch for "The Oyster Gatherers of Cancale"). [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 (as Young Boy on the Beach, Sketch for "The Oyster Gatherers of Cancale"). [exh. cat.]

An American Revelation: The Daniel J. Terra Collection, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, February 28–October 1, 1988 (as Young Boy on the Beach, Sketch for "The Oyster Gatherers of Cancale").

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 (as Young Boy on the Beach, Sketch for "The Oyster Gatherers of Cancale"). [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 (as Jeune garçon sur la plage, esquisse pour "Les ramasseuses d'huitres de Cancale" (Young Boy on the Beach, Sketch for "Oyster Gatherers of Cancale")). [exh. cat.]

American Artists and the French Experience, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, April 12–August 27, 1997 (as Young Boy on the Beach, Sketch for "Oyster Gatherers of Cancale").

Rivières et rivages: les artistes américains, 1850–1900 (Waves and Waterways: American Perspectives, 1850–1900), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, April 1–October 31, 2000 (as Jeune garçon sur la plage, esquisse pour "Les ramasseuses d'huitres de Cancale" (Young Boy on the Beach, Sketch for "Oyster Gatherers of Cancale")). [exh. cat.]

Selections from the Permanent Collection: American Artists in France, 1860–1910, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, March 10–June 3, 2001 (as Young Boy on the Beach, Sketch for "Oyster Gatherers of Cancale").

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 (as Jeune garçon sur la plage, esquisse pour "Les ramasseuses d'huitres de Cancale" (Young Boy on the Beach, Sketch for "Oyster Gatherers of Cancale")).

A Place on the Avenue: Terra Museum of American Art Celebrates 15 Years in Chicago, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, November 16, 2002–February 16, 2003 (on exhibit extended run: November 2, 2002–March 2, 2003) (as Young Boy on the Beach, Sketch for "Oyster Gatherers of Cancale").

The People Work: American Perspectives, 1840–1940 (Le Travail à l'oeuvre: les artistes américains 1840–1940), Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venues: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, March 15–May 25, 2003; Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, June 8–August 17, 2003 (as Jeune garçon sur la plage, esquisse pour "Les ramasseuses d'huitres de Cancale" (Young Boy on the Beach, Sketch for "Oyster Gatherers of Cancale")). [exh. cat.]

En plein air: personnages dans un paysage (En Plein Air: Figures in a Landscape), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, April 1–October 31, 2004 (as Jeune garçon sur la plage, esquisse pour "Les ramasseuses d'huitres de Cancale" (Young Boy on the Beach, Sketch for "Oyster Gatherers of Cancale")).

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 (as Jeune garçon sur la plage, esquisse pour "Les ramasseuses d'huitres de Cancale" (Young Boy on the Beach, Sketch for "Oyster Gatherers of Cancale")). [exh. brochure]

Impressions: American Painters in Paris 1860–1935, Naples Musuem of Art, Philharmonic Center for the Arts, Naples, Florida (organizer). Venue: Naples Museum of Art, Philharmonic Center for the Arts, Naples, Florida, January 18–May 13, 2007 (as Young Boy on the Beach, Sketch for "Oyster Gatherers of Cancale"). [exh. cat]

Sargent and the Sea, Corcoran Gallery of Art , Washington, DC (organizer). Venues: Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, September 12, 2009–January 3, 2010; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texax, February 14–May 23, 2010; Royal Academy of Arts, London, England, July 10–September 26, 2010. [exh. cat.]

American Impressionism: a New Vision, 1880–1900 (L'Impressionnisme et les Américains/ Impresionismo Americano (French & Spanish titles), Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny, Giverny, France and the Terra Foundation for American Art, Chicago, Illinois in collaboration with the National Galleries of Scotland, Edinburgh, United Kingdom and the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid, Spain (organizers). Venues: Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny, Giverny, France, March 28–June 29, 2014; Scottish National Gallery, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, July 19–October 19, 2014; Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid, Spain, November 4, 2014–February 1, 2015 (as Young Boy on the Beach, Sketch for "Oyster Gatherers of Cancale"). [exh. cat.]

Whistler to Cassatt: American Painters in France, Denver Museum of Fine Arts, Denver (organizer); Venues: Denver Art Museum, November 14, 2021 - March 13, 2022; Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, April 16 - July 31, 2022. [exh. cat.]

    

Parke-Bernet Galleries, Inc., New York, New York (April 7–8, 1971): lot 31. Ill. lot 31 (as Young Boy on the Beach: Sketch for "The Oyster Gatherers of Cancale").

Mount, Charles Merrill. "The Works of John Singer Sargent in Washington." Records of the Columbia Historical Society, Washington D.C. 49 (1973/74): Text p. 450 (general reference to studies for Oyster Gatherers of Cancale).

Driscoll, John Paul. American Paintings from the Collection of Daniel J. Terra. (exh. cat., Museum of Art, The Pennsylvania State University). University Park, Pennsylvania: Museum of Art, The Pennsylvania State University, 1977. Ill. (black & white as Oyster Gatherer of Cancale (male)).

John Singer Sargent, his own work. (exh. cat., Coe Kerr Gallery). New York: Coe Kerr Gallery and Wittenborn Art Books, 1980. Text p. 4 (general reference to studies for Oyster Gatherers of Cancale).

Sellin, David. Americans in Brittany and Normandy: 1860–1910. (exh. cat., Phoenix Art Museum). Phoenix, Arizona: Phoenix Art Museum, 1982. Text p. 135; ill. p. 136, no. 14 (black & white, as Young Boy on the Beach: Sketch for "The Oyster Gatherers of Cancale").

Ratcliff, Carter. John Singer Sargent. New York: Abbeville Press, Publishers, 1982. Ill. p. 52, no. 69 (black & white, as Male Study for "The Oyster Gatherers of Cancale").

Adams, Henry. "Daniel Terra and American Art: Private Collector to Public Champion." Portfolio 5, no. 1 (January/February 1983): 48–53. Ill. p. 53 (color, as The Young Boy on the Beach).

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. Ill. p. 197, pl. T-88 (color, as Young Boy on the Beach, Sketch for "The Oyster Gatherers of Cancale").

Shelby, Carole. American Painters in France, 1830–1930. (exh. cat., Terra Museum of Art, Chicago). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Museum of Art, 1989. Text no. 39 (checklist, as Young Boy on the Beach (Sketch for "The Oyster Gatherers of Cancale")).

Fairbrother, Trevor. "Sargent's Genre Paintings and the Issues of Suppression and Privacy." In Studies in the History of Art: Vol. 37 Symposium Papers XXI: American Art around 1900: Lectures in Memory of Daniel Fraad. Washington D.C.: National Gallery of Art, 1990. Text p. 30 (general reference to studies for Oyster Gatherers of Cancale).

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. 216; 220; ill. p. 219, pl. 54 (color, as Young Boy on the Beach, Sketch for "Oyster Gatherers of Cancale").

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. 216; 220; ill. 219, pl. 54 (color, as Jeune garçon sur la plage, esquisse pour "Les ramasseuses d'huitres de Cancale").

Sullivan, Charles, ed. Imaginary Animals: Poetry and Art for Young People. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers, 1996. Ill. p. 78 (color, as Young Boy on the Beach, Sketch for "Oyster Gatherers of Cancale").

Regard sur cinq années d'expositions (Five years of Exhibitions at a Glance). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 1997. Text p. 55 (checklist, as Jeune garçon sur la plage, esquisse pour "Les ramasseuses d'huitres de Cancale").

Cartwright, Derrick R. Waves and Waterways: American Perspectives, 1850–1900. (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 2000. Text p. 28 (checklist); ill. p. 37 (color, as Young Boy on the Beach (Sketch for "The Oyster Gatherers of Cancale")).

Cartwright, Derrick R. Rivières et rivages: les artistes américains, 1850–1900. (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 2000. Text p. 28 (checklist); ill. p. 37 (color, as Jeune garçon sur la plage, esquisse pour "Les ramasseuses d'huitres de Cancale").

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 p. 94; ill. p. 94, fig. c (black & white, as Young Boy on the Beach, Sketch for "Oyster Gatherers of Cancale").

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 p. 94; ill. p. 94, fig. c (black & white, as Jeune garçon sur la plage, esquisse pour "Les ramasseuses d'huitres de Cancale").

Kennedy, Elizabeth. “The Terra Museum of American Art.” American Art Review 14, no. 6 (2002): Text p. 128 (general reference to studies for "Oyster Gatherers of Cancale").

The People Work: American Perspectives, 1840–1940. (exh. cat., Terra Museum of American Art, Musée d’Art Américain). Giverny, France: Musée d’Art Américain, 2003. Text p. 30 (checklist, as Young Boy on the Beach, Sketch for "Oyster Gatherers of Cancale").

Le Travaila L’oeuvre: Les Artistes Américains, 1840–1940. (exh. cat., Terra Museum of American Art, Musée d’Art Américain). Giverny, France: Musée d’Art Américain, 2003. Text p. 30 (checklist, as Jeune garçon sur la plage, esquisse pour "Les ramasseuses d'huitres de Cancale").

McHugh, Rich. The Rough Guide to Chicago. London: Rough Guides Limited, 2003. Text p. 61 (general reference to studies for "Oyster Gatherers of Cancale").

Ormond, Richard, et al. John Singer Sargent: Figures and Landscapes, 1874–1882; Complete Paintings: Volume IV. New Haven; London: Published for the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art by Yale University Press, 2006. Text pp. 86, 108, 117, 118, 396; ill. p. 118 (color, as Study for "Oyster Gatherers of Cancale"), p. 117, fig. 63 (black & white).

Gerdts, William H. and David F. Setford. Impressions: Americans in France, 1860–1930 and Claude Monet: Giverny and the North of France. (exh. cat. Naples Museum of Art). Naples, Florida: Naples Museum of Art, 2007. Text pp. 12–13, 97 no. 39 (checklist); ill. p. 30 (color, as Young Boy on the Beach, Sketch for "Oyster Gatherers of Cancale").

Cash, Sarah. Sargent and the Sea. (exh. cat., Corcoran Gallery of Art). Washington, DC: Corcoran Gallery of Art, 2009. Text pp. 97–98, 100, 105; ill. p. 99, fig. 137 (black & white).

Scherer, Barrymore Laurence. "Sargent’s Sea Fever." The Wall Street Journal (October 27, 2009). Accessed October 27, 2016. Text (general reference to studies for Oyster Gatherers of Cancale).

Donnelly, Jennifer A. "Sargent and the Wyeths in London: Sargent and the Sea, Royal Academy of Arts (10 July–26 September 2010) The Wyeth Family: Three Generations of American Art, Dulwich Picture Gallery (9 June–22 August 2010)." Transatlantica: Revue d’études américaines. American Studies Journal 1 (2010): Text p. 2 (general reference to studies for Oyster Gatherers of Cancale).

Payne, Christiana. “Modernity at the Seaside.” Oxford Art Journal 33 no. 2 (2010): Text p. 239 (general reference to studies for Oyster Gatherers of Cancale).

Curry, David Park. “Sargent: Washington, Houston and London.” The Burlington Magazine 152 no. 1289 (2010): Text p. 560 (general reference to studies for Oyster Gatherers of Cancale).

Cumming, Laura. “Sargent and the Sea: Royal Academy, London.” The Guardian (July 17, 2010). Accessed October 27, 2016. https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2010/jul/18/singer-sargent-sea-royal-academy. Text (general reference to studies for Oyster Gatherers of Cancale).

Cash, Sarah, ed. Corcoran Gallery of Art: American Paintings to 1945. Washington D.C.: Corcoran Gallery of Art, 2011. Text p. 143, p. 268 n. 9 (general reference to studies for Oyster Gatherers of Cancale).

Bourguignon, Katherine M. American Impressionism: A New Vision 1880–1900. (exh. cat., Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny, National Galleries of Scotland, Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza). Giverny, France: Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny, 2014. Text p. 25; ill. p. 65 (color, as Young Boy on the Beach, Sketch for "Oyster Gatherers of Cancale").

Bourguignon, Katherine M. L’Impressionnisme et les Américains. (exh. cat., Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny, National Galleries of Scotland, Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza). Giverny, France: Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny, 2014. Text p. 25; ill. p. 65 (color, as Jeune garçon sur la plage, esquisse pour "Les ramasseuses d'huitres de Cancale").

Bourguinon, Katherine M. Impresionismo Americano. (exh. cat., Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny, National Galleries of Scotland, Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza). Giverny, France: Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny, 2014. Text p. 25; ill. p. 65 (color).

Bourguignon, Katherine M., and Peter John Brownlee, eds. Conversations with the Collection: A Terra Foundation Collection Handbook. Chicago: Terra Foundation for American Art, 2018. Text pp. 125, 127; ill. p. 125 (color). Standring, Timothy J., ed. Whistler to Cassatt: American Painters in France. (exh. cat., Denver Art Museum). New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2021. Text p. 36; ill. p. 41 (color).