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John Adams Parker, Jr. is associated with the second generation
of Hudson River School painters who examined nature and man’s
relationship to the natural world in the years during and immediately
following the Civil War. During this time nature was most often
depicted as picturesque rather than sublime, and man as insignificant
by comparison.
Here an approaching storm has churned the waves that crash
against jagged rocks on the shoreline and steep palisades. The
murky green water reflects the darkness of the clouds rolling
in from the right, while far on the horizon are three sailing
vessels. The observer is left to wonder if they will make landfall
in time.
John Adams Parker, Jr. was one of the best-known artists in
Brooklyn in the latter half of the 19th century. He became a
professional painter only after the failure of his mercantile
business in the financial Panic of 1857. He must have received
some training before that date, however, as he was exhibiting
at the National Academy of Design by 1858 and was an Associate
Member by 1864. Parker’s studio was at 137 Montague Street
in Brooklyn and he was a founding member of the Brooklyn Art
Association. He exhibited regularly at both the National Academy
of Design and the Brooklyn Art Association until 1886.
“Approaching Storm,” a seascape, is a rare subject
for Parker. He is best known for snow scenes and views of the
Adirondacks, the Catskills, the White Mountains and the shores
of Long Island.
The painting has not been re-lined and there are only a few
small dots of in-painting in the sky. It is freshly cleaned and
re-varnished.
The frame, which appears to be original to the picture, dates
to the early 1860’s and is in excellent condition. It is
in a sand-textured rock pattern large cove style, with cross-straps
and reeded outer edges.
The painting was purchased at auction from a Florida collection. |
