Under a Palm Tree

1886

Winslow Homer

Associated Names
Winslow Homer

Artist, American, 1836 - 1910

This painting depicts a woman standing upright next to a thin tree trunk, with one arm folded across her chest and the other hanging down by her side. Her body is facing us, but her head is turned to look off to the left. She has long dark hair partially covered by a plaid shawl, and wears a white skirt, brown apron, red and white blouse, and gray shoes with red bows or flowers on them. She has light brown skin, deep-set eyes, a small nose, and lips set in a neutral expression. Greenery surrounds her, with some red flowers or leaves visible. The sky visible beyond the trees is off-white, and the ground is light brown.

Media Options

This object’s media is free and in the public domain. Read our full Open Access policy for images.
Not on view See artworks now on view

Artwork overview

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Thomas B. Clarke, New York, by 1893; (American Art Association, 14-18 Feb. 1899. Clarke sale. no. 310); Frank Rockefeller, Cleveland, 1899; Alice M. Rockefeller, Cleveland, his daughter, probably by bequest, 1917; Charles R. Henschel, New York, 1943; (George E. Gage, Cleveland, c. 1943); Ruth K. Henschel (Mrs. Charles R. Henschel), New York, 1956; gift to NGA, 1975.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1888

  • [sixty-six watercolors by nineteen artists], J. Eastman Chase, Boston, c. 10-c. 31 Dec. 1888 (as Florida Landscape and Figure)

1891

  • Fifth Annual Art Loan Exhibition, New York Athletic Club, 4 April 1891 (as A Key West Native)

1893

  • American Oil Paintings and Watercolors Loaned and for Sale. First Annual Summer Exhibition of the Art House, The Art House [Thomas B. Clarke], New York, 9 June-through Aug. 1893, no. 52 (as A Key West Native)

1895

  • Paintings by American Artists from Studios and Private Owners [auction], Fifth Avenue Art Galleries, New York, 8 March 1985, no. 23 (as Beneath the Palm Tree)

1899

  • Private Art Collection of Thomas B. Clarke [auction], American Art Association, New York, 7-18 Feb. 1899, no. 310

1944

  • Oils and Watercolors by Winslow Homer, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, 3 Oct.-2 Nov. 1944

1962

  • Water Colors by Winslow Homer from the Collection of Mrs. Charles R. Henschel, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, 6 July-12 Sept. 1962, no. 4

1966

  • Watercolors by Winslow Homer, 1836-1910, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, 7 July-28 Aug. 1966, no. 20

1975

  • Winslow Homer (1836-1910): Watercolors, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, 28 Sept. - 14 Dec. 1975.

1995

  • Winslow Homer, National Gallery of Art, Washington; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 1995-1996, 243-245, no. 153.

2005

  • Winslow Homer in the National Gallery of Art, Washington, 2005-2006.

Bibliography

1911

  • Downes, William Howe. The Life and Works of Winslow Homer. Boston and New York, 1911: 130, fig. p. 122.

1995

  • Winslow Homer. Exh. cat. National Gallery of Art, Washington; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1995-1996: no. 153.

2012

  • Goodrich, Lloyd and Abigail Booth Gerdts. Record of Works by Winslow Homer. New York, 2012: IV.1, no. 1334, p. 402

Inscriptions

lower left in black watercolor: Key West- / Jan 1886; lower right in brown: Winslow Homer; upper left verso in graphite by unknown hand: Key West native / Winslow Homer NA; center verso in graphite by unknown hand: 12 3/8 x 15 3/8

Wikidata ID

Q64640074

You may be interested in

Loading Results