Sunset Scene

Edward Mitchell Bannister, Sunset Scene, ca. 1875-1885, oil on wood, 10 ³⁄₄ x 18 ⁷⁄₈ in. (27.2 x 48.0 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Dr. Charles Mandell, 1983.95.82

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Artwork Details

Title: Sunset Scene
Artist: Edward Mitchell Bannister
Date: ca. 1875-1885
Location: Smithsonian American Art Museum
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Luce Foundation Center
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3rd Floor
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13A
Dimensions: 10 ³⁄₄ x 18 ⁷⁄₈ in. (27.2 x 48.0 cm.)
Credit Line: Gift of Dr. Charles Mandell
Mediums: oil
Mediums Description: oil on wood
Classifications: Painting
Subjects: Waterscape — coast
Architecture — boat — sailboat
Landscape — time — sunset
Object Number: 1983.95.82
Linked Open Data: https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1983.95.82

Artwork Description

Edward Mitchell Bannister (1828–1901) lived by the sea for most of his life, and many of his paintings, including Sunset Scene, feature boats or bodies of water. Here, the glowing oranges and yellows immediately draw us into the center of the image, highlighting the indistinct trees and buildings in the background. Bannister's intimate views of the American landscape contrast with the large vistas of mountains and canyons painted by many of his contemporaries. This picturesque scene, in which nature is shown as passive and calm, is typical of Bannister's work.