Lilla Cabot Perry: Working at Giverny

 

"At the River's Head (On the River, II)" by Lilla Cabot Perry

"Claude Monet welcomed Thomas and Lilla Perry warmly when they resettled in Giverny early in June 1894, and they were delighted to be back.  For Lilla, living at Giverny inspired her to paint what she loved most - landscapes. She never tired of the infinite variety of views of the village and surrounding countryside, bathed in the soft, ever-changing light. 

Two of her loveliest landscapes from the summers of the mid-1890s depict a row of poplar trees. Clearly inspired by Monet's famous series, 'Poplars,' these paintings nevertheless present her at her best. Chromatic spots of color capture the effect of sunlight through the shimmering leaves of the trees, softly contrasted with variegated stripes of light pink and pale green evoking the surrounding fields. 

She also painted a considerable number of plein-air figures in Giverny and interior genre scenes. 'At the River's Head [Edith Perry],' exemplifies Perry's personal interpretation of Impressionism, which borrows from both Monet and Old Master sources. In this two-part composition the background is composed of reflections on the river Epte, where vibrant greens and golden hues loosely weave together to create a tapestry effect. Framed by this 'modern' background, Lilla places a portrait of her daughter Edith, also painted in muted tones delicately applied in the Impressionist manner, and upon whose gaze Lilla focused first and foremost.

Her husband wrote that 'Monet came in yesterday p.m. & looked at Lilla's pictures. He gave one of the highest praises he ever gave anything, 'pas mal' ['not bad'], & she feels highly flattered. He was very encouraging.' Her paintings were regularly exhibited at the new Salon de la Societe Nationale des Beaux-Arts of which Puvis de Chavannes was president. Puvis considered her art 'very original, of charming colour and very delicate.' 

Lilla also immensely admired Camille Pissarro. Eragny, where Pissarro lived, was within cycling distance of Giverny, and the Perry were most anxious to meet him, which they did in October of 1894." But more of that tomorrow..."

To be continued

(Excerpts from "Lilla Cabot Perry: An American Impressionist" by Meredith Martindale.)