Willard Leroy Metcalf
Sunlight and Shadow

ArtistAmerican, 1858–1925
CultureAmerican
Titles
  • Sunlight and Shadow
Date1888
PlaceUnited States
MediumOil on wood
Dimensions12 3/4 × 16 1/8 in. (32.4 × 40.9 cm)
Frame: 19 3/8 × 22 7/8 × 1 3/4 in. (49.2 × 58.1 × 4.4 cm)
Credit LineGift of Miss Ima Hogg
Object number41.28
Not on view

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Department
American Art
Object Type
Provenance Research Ongoing Exhibition History"American Painters in the Age of Impressionism," The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, December 4, 1994–March 26, 1995.

"Willard Leroy Metcalf, a Retrospective," The Museum of Fine Arts, Springfield, Massachusetts, September 5, 1976–May 15, 1977.

"Sunlight on Leaves: The Impressionist Tradition," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, June 12–August 16, 1981.

"An International Episode: Millet, Monet, and Their North American Counterparts," Worchester Art Museum, Massachusetts, November 21, 1982–April 30, 1983.

"The Best of Times: Intimate American Paintings from the turn of the Century," The Tyler Museum of Art, Texas, January 14–April 16, 1989; Alexandria Museum of Art, Louisiana, May 20–July 30, 1989; The Art Center, Waco, Texas, August 21–October 4, 1989; Museum of Art, University of Oklahoma, Norman, October 21, 1989–January 14, 1990; Louisiana Arts & Science Center, Baton Rouge, February 2– April 15,1990; Amarillo Art Center, Texas, May 5–June 17, 1990; Abilene Fine Arts Museum, August 11–October 28, 1990; Wichita Falls Museum & Art Center, Texas, November 11, 1990–January 20. 1991; Meadows Museum of Art, Centenary College of Louisiana, Shreveport, February 3–March 31, 1991; Longview Museum and Arts Center, Texas, April 7–July 13, 1991; Live Oak Art Center, Columbus, Texas, December 13, 1991–January 31, 1992.

"Age of Innocence: American Impressionism and Its Influence," San Antonio Museum of Art, June 28–September 2, 1996.

"Impressions: American Painters in France, 1865-1935," Naples Museum of Art, Florida, January 18–May 13, 2007.

"American Made: 250 Years of American Art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston," The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, July 7, 2012–January 2, 2013.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
Partially torn label on verso of panel: "Exhibition Society for Artists April 29 1889 / [illegible] / Artist Mr. W L Metcalf / Owner [illegible] / Price 150. / Return to / J. Eastman Chase, / 7 Hamilton Place, / Boston."

Label, verso of panel: Terra Museum of American Art / 2600 Central Park, Evanston, IL 60201 / 312 328-3400 / Artist: Willard LeRoy Metcalf (1853-1925) / Title: Sunlight and Shadow, 1888 / Medium: Oil on canvas, 12-3/4 x 16-1/8 in. / Lender: Museum of Fine Arts, Houston / Exhibition: Millet, Monet and their North / American Counterparts, Jan. 7-Feb. 13, 1963 / Catalogue. No. 42"

Label, verso of frame: "The Dixon Gallery and Gardens / 4339 Park Avenue / Memphis, Tennessee 38117-4698 / Phone: (901) 761-5250 / an International Episode: Millet, Monet, and their / North American Counterparts Nov. 1982 - Apr. 1983 / Cat. No. 42 / Artist: Willard Leroy METCALF / Title: SUNLIGHT AND SHADOW 1888 / Lender: Museum of Fine Arts, Houston"
Signed and dated lower left in red: "W.L. Metcalf 1888"

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