Gifford Beal (1879-1956)

Gifford Beal first visited Rockport, Massachusetts in 1923 and would continue to visit the seaside town through the 1930s. From here he would often travel the short distance to the artists' colony of Gloucester, where he painted the present work. Having studied with both Robert Henri and William Merritt Chase, Beal gravitated towards realistic depictions, vigorous brushstrokes and bold color in his compositions. According to Valerie Ann Leeds, "The elevated promontory in Bass Rocks, Gloucester gives the composition an unusual and striking formal structure. The figures create some sense of dramatic narrative as they overlook the grand view, yet the painting is more about nature and the contrast between the rocky Gloucester landscape and the sea." (In the American Spirit: Realism and Impressionism from the Lawrence Collection, exhibition catalogue, St. Petersburg, Florida, 1999, p. 21)