: Theodore Robinson (1852-1896), generally recognized as the first
American artist to master the principles of Impressionism, was a
leader in advancing the style among his countrymen. His
paintings, moreover, are distinctive and of the quality required
to stand the test of time. Yet, he is rarely cited as an
outstanding American painter, and is little known to the public
today.
A fascinating exhibition, "In Monet's Light: Theodore Robinson at
Giverny," organized by Sona Johnston, senior curator of painting
and sculpture at the Baltimore Museum of Art, is on view there
through January 9. The show's nearly 60 paintings and catalog
offer new glimpses into the crucial influence of French
Impressionist master Claude Monet's in converting Robinson to
Impressionism and the American's outstanding achievements while
in Giverny, 1887-1892.
Robinson was much admired by contemporary artists and critics,
but his paintings did not sell particularly well, and he was
short of funds for most of his career. He had only one solo
exhibition - at New York's Macbeth Gallery - the year before he
died. After his early death, his work faded from public view.
