Frank C. Mathewson (American, 1862–1941) Dune Palmettos, Isle of Palms, 1920

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Frank Convers Mathewson (American, 1862–1941)
Dune Palmettos, Isle of Palms, April 15, 1920
Watercolor on board

A luminous plein-air coastal … Read more Frank Convers Mathewson (American, 1862–1941)
Dune Palmettos, Isle of Palms, April 15, 1920
Watercolor on board

A luminous plein-air coastal study by Rhode Island artist Frank Convers Mathewson, this 1920 watercolor captures the windswept tranquility of the South Carolina shoreline with remarkable freshness and immediacy. Titled and dated in graphite along the lower left edge and signed in watercolor lower right, the composition depicts three sabal palmettos rising from ochre-hued dunes under a pale April sky, the Atlantic glinting softly beyond the ridge. Mathewson’s skill as a watercolorist is on full display in the variegated brushwork—from the fluid dry-brush applications rendering sunlit grasses to the richly saturated fronds articulated in deep blue, olive, and viridian. The use of color suggests both the heat and breeziness of the southern coast, while his deft, economical draftsmanship preserves a clarity and spontaneity rarely sustained in the medium.

Mathewson, a founding member of the Providence Art Club and an important figure in the New England watercolor tradition, is best known for his atmospheric landscapes and sensitive depictions of the American countryside. Though often associated with the coastal environs of Narragansett and Cape Cod, this Southern view exemplifies his broader travels and commitment to working directly from nature. A fine example of early 20th-century American regionalism in watercolor, this sheet stands as both a lyrical evocation of place and a testament to Mathewson’s practiced eye and technical restraint.

Measurements: 8" h x 10" w (board).
Inscribed: “Isle of Palms, S.C., April 15, 1920” at lower left in graphite.
Signed: F.C. Mathewson lower right in watercolor. See less