John Henry Twachtman Catalogue Raisonné
An online catalogue by Lisa N. Peters, Ph.D., in collaboration with the Greenwich Historical Society
Catalogue Entry
D.1404
Charcoal Sketch after Boats at Anchor
Alternate titles: Overlooking the Harbor; Thumbnail Sketch--Gloucester
ca. 1900
Charcoal on paper
3 1/2 x 5 1/2 in. (8.9 x 14 cm)
Inscribed verso: 8 x 10 Grey day / very cool in color
Private collection
Provenance
by descent in the family to present collection, 1990.
Literature
Peters, Lisa N. "Catalogue." In John Twachtman (1853–1902): A "Painter's Painter", by Lisa N. Peters. New York: Spanierman Gallery, 2006. Exhibition catalogue (2006 Spanierman), pp. 200–201 ill. in b/w, as Charcoal Sketch after Boats at Anchor.
Auction catalogue, August 1, 2008. South Portland, Maine: Baridoff Galleries, 2008, lot 154 ill. in b/w, as Overlooking the Harbor.
Commentary
One of the twenty-four charcoal sketches that Twachtman sent to his son, Alden, recording compositions he created in Gloucester in the summer of 1900, this drawing depicts Boats at Anchor (OP.1409). The scene depicted is a view from Banner Hill in East Gloucester across Smith's Cove. The painting was included in the artist's estate sale, presumably with the title of Boats at Anchor. However, on the back of this sketch, Twachtman wrote "Grey Day, very cool in color," which is quite fitting to the painting. The dimensions he indicated also match those of Boats at Anchor.