Fabulous Coastal Art - Amazon Web Services

FROM “THE PINK BOOK”
DEVON FLEMING
Fabulous Coastal Art
for our FAB coast
H
aving grown up on the Delaware shore, and living
near the Connecticut coast for the past dozen years,
I am a true a fan of anything related to the ocean,
particularly fine original paintings. Meeting my husband only
increased my desire for this type of art. He has sailing in his
blood. His great-grandfather was Gerard Lambert, who, among
other things, was once the commodore of the New York Yacht
club. He owned a gorgeous, original “J” boat and was famous
for racing it around the world.
I love all kinds of marine art, from the traditional water
scenes of old steamships pulling into a harbor to classic depictions of sailing races, simple beach scenes to more modern impressionistic styling. As an interior decorator, I find maritime
art versatile, especially here in Fairfield County where we’re
blessed to be so close to the open water. It works in homes
ranging from the very formal, to beachfront cottages and contemporary homes, and even in my New Canaan farmhouse.
This month, I’ve sought the advice, expertise and guidance
on maritime art from some truly lovely local art gallery owners
Edward Brodney “The Race” Courtesy of Abby M. Taylor Fine Art
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October 2007
Cross Tacks - Cambria & Endeavor/America’s Cup-2001 by Peter Layne Arguimbau
Courtesy of The Geary Gallery
and dealers. I’ve learned that while ocean scenes, boats and harbor views have long been, and will continue to be, very popular
subjects, collectors of museum-quality and investment-grade
art focus on a relatively small number of maritime masters
from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Still, maritime
and marine subjects by more contemporary artists are perennial sellers, gracing the homes (and second homes) of many of
our neighbors.
If you’re thinking of investing in a piece of fine maritime art,
one of your first calls should be to Michael Florio of Quester
Gallery which recently relocated from Greenwich Avenue to a
space on Rowayton Avenue that hugs the harbor. With more
than 30 years in the business, Quester handles works by such
noted names as James Buttersworth, Antonio Jacobson, William Trost Richards and others that can command prices from
$300,000 to $600,000, as well as pieces by twentieth-century
FROM “THE PINK BOOK”
The New England Collection
Ernistina by Peter Layne Arguimbau - Courtesy of The Geary Gallery
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artists, some still living, noted for their artistry at capturing
the feeling of the masters who came before them.
“The 19th century artists like Buttersworth, Fitz Henry
Lane and James Bard combined so many qualities and ingredients in their work—qualities that are hard to reproduce today,”
said Florio. “They had and took a lot of time to study their
subjects, mixed their own paints and built on the centuries
of academic tradition behind them. Between 1900-1950, that
tradition was sort of abandoned. Now, living artists are coming back to the old ways and traditions and its great to see a
revival of the academic style and techniques.”
Abby M. Taylor, owner of Greenwich Avenue’s AMT Fine
Art, sees the gap between the maritime masters and contemporary renderings as an overlooked opportunity for artists today.
“There’s a wonderful group of very fine artists today who produce excellent coastal views and maritime scenes in very realist
ways,” said Taylor. “The trade off is that while these works are
more affordable than 19th and early 20th century works there
is little chance for escalation in their value as there’s virtually
no re-interpretation or avant-garde statement that will make
critics and historians take notice.”
Taylor went on to point out a work by Edward Brodney from
the early twentieth century as an example of an artist who attempted a more modern interpretation. His “Lone Boat,”
available through AMT Fine Art, “moves toward the avant-garde
with its impressionist brush strokes which were representative
of his time in the art world.”
Still, Florio believes that more academic and realist interpretations of maritime subjects will remain popular—be they from
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FROM “THE PINK BOOK”
James Bard (American, active 1900-1938) “Steamboat NEVERSINK”
the nineteenth century or the present day. “Fairfield County has
a strong tradition of yachting and generations of yachtsmen, and
sailing vessels have long been and remain points of pride, examples of beauty and symbols of adventure and drama,” said Florio.
“Portraits of vessels for ship owners celebrate those aspects.”
Many vessel portraits are commissioned today. One local
Greenwich maritime artist of note cited by both Taylor and
Florio is Pete Layne Arguimbau who has built an impressive
reputation for luminism, which emphasizes light, detail and
the hiding of brushstrokes. Arguimbau is a strict adherent to
old-world techniques used by the masters of centuries past.
Even his studio, set in an old barn on his back country Greenwich home, was created to replicate the lighting of Vermeer’s
studio, which only has one window, facing north and covered
in shutters so he can control beams of light to fall precisely
on his subjects.
You can read an impressive biography of Arguimbau on his
website or pay a visit to Tom Geary of Darien’s Geary Gallery.
Geary recently began carrying Arguimbau’s works in the gallery
and is thrilled at the new business relationship, though the two
have known each other over many years. “I waited a long, long
time for Peter to be available to us,” said Geary, noting that he
now holds thirty original works by the artist. “I’ve been in the
business for 23 years and I feel Arguimbau’s rapidly approaching the top ten of contemporary maritime artists in the United
States. His work so distinctive.”
you’re invited
to our first annual
Holiday Open House
Saturday, October 13 • 10am to 2pm • 173 Main Street, Norwalk
Entertaining the idea of hosting the holidays?
Meet the experts and enjoy hands-on demonstrations:
Party Planning
Festive Appetizers
Wine Tasting & Tips
Floral Arranging
Chocolate Making
Cookie Decorating
Home Fashions
Portfolio: www.asidct.org
Patricia Garrett Interior Design
203.846.3720
[email protected]
Purchase your Beautiful Homes of Fairfield County calendar.
34
October 2007
All proceeds benefit the Stew Leonard III Children’s Charities.
Brandman’sPaint and Decorating
County
35
Because life Fairfield
should
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beautiful
FROM “THE PINK BOOK”
Exceptional Furnishings
Art & Accessories
a. gallery
fine
contemporary
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Courtesy of The Quester Gallery, James Buttersworth (American, 1817-1894)
get inspired
For those who want an up-close look at some of the
artwork, both the Quester Gallery and the Geary Gallery
have upcoming events to put on your calendars. While
Quester is open for business in Rowayton, the official
opening is tentatively scheduled for November 1, 2007.
Call the gallery for more information.
The Geary Gallery is hosting the opening of a Peter Arguimbau exhibit on November 10 to which the public is
welcome. The show will run through December. For more
information call the gallery directly.
Until then, happy sailing the waters of maritime art!
Devon Fleming’s Pink Book was published in its second edition. While
Devon is considered Fairfield County’s home and lifestyle expert, go to
DevonFleming.com to see all of her multi-media solutions for your Home,
Family and Fun.
Devon’s Picks & Resource Guide
AMT FINE ART
Abby M. Taylor
43 Greenwich Avenue, Greenwich
203-662-0906
www.amtfineart.com
203.599.1244
203.570.2494
agalleryhome.com
Quester Gallery
Michael Florio
119 Rowayton Avenue, Rowayton,
203-523-0250
www.questergallery.com
44 Railroad Place
Westport, CT 06880
36
October 2007
Geary Gallery
Tom Geary
576 Boston Post Road, Darien
203-655-6633
www.gearygallery.com
Peter Layne Arguimbau, Artist
www.arguimbau.net
Mandarin Collection
Fine Antique Furnishings and Museum Quality Artifacts
18 Riverside Avenue, Westport, CT 06880
203.434.4090 • [email protected]