Artwork
Celia Thaxter's Garden, Isles of Shoals, Maine

Celia Thaxter's Garden, Isles of Shoals, Maine is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist Childe Hassam. It dates from 1896 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The subject matter represents the unique floral abundance of Thaxter's garden, capturing a moment where cultivated beauty meets the expansive seascape.
Painted in 1896, this work depicts a vibrant garden scene situated on the Isles of Shoals off the coast of Maine. The composition features a foreground dense with blooming flowers, specifically identified as poppies, which stand out against the broader landscape. Beyond the cultivated garden, the view extends to include the ocean, merging the domestic cultivation of nature with the wild coastal environment.
As an example of American Impressionism, the painting focuses on the interplay of light and color within this specific maritime setting. The subject matter represents the unique floral abundance of Thaxter's garden, capturing a moment where cultivated beauty meets the expansive seascape.
Technique & Style
Celia Thaxter's Garden, Isles of Shoals, Maine is executed in oil paint on canvas, a medium typical of late-19th-century American painting. The work is classified as a landscape and aligns with the American Impressionist movement, emphasizing light and atmospheric effects. Its composition presents a flower-filled garden overlooking the ocean, with poppies and other flora rendered in a bright palette. The support is a stretched canvas measuring approximately 45.1 cm high by 54.6 cm wide.
History & Provenance
Celia Thaxter's Garden, Isles of Shoals, Maine is an oil-on-canvas landscape painting executed in 1896 by American Impressionist Childe Hassam. The work was created on the Isles of Shoals off the coast of New England and depicts a garden scene with poppies and ocean views. The painting entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection and has remained in its permanent holdings, where it is displayed as part of the institution's American art collection. Its dimensions measure 45.1 cm by 54.6 cm.
Overview
Celia Thaxter's Garden, Isles of Shoals, Maine is an oil painting that captures a vibrant floral landscape. The artwork presents a sun-drenched wildflower garden, where the natural forms appear to extend beyond the canvas's edge. This piece offers a vivid portrayal of a specific coastal setting, emphasizing the lively interaction of light and color within the cultivated natural environment.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Frederick Childe Hassam (; October 17, 1859 – August 27, 1935) was an American Impressionist painter, noted for his urban and coastal scenes.















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