Boy on a Raft

1879

Winslow Homer

Associated Names
Winslow Homer

Artist, American, 1836 - 1910

The image shows a young person on a small wooden raft in the lower right corner. The viewpoint is at water level, facing the child. Foliage blocks the horizon, and water extends into the distance. The brushstrokes are delicate and watercolor-like. The color palette is muted with shades of green, brown, and light blue. A fish is on the raft, and a faint bird outline is in the trees. The sky has a light blue tint.

Media Options

This object’s media is free and in the public domain. Read our full Open Access policy for images.
Not on view See artworks now on view

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    watercolor over graphite on wove paper

  • Credit Line

    Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon

  • Dimensions

    sheet: 19.37 × 32.39 cm (7 5/8 × 12 3/4 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2014.18.21

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Goodrich/Gerdts 2014, Vol. III, no. 807

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Hamilton Cole, New York, c.1880; the Misses Cole, New York, his sisters, by bequest, c 1889; Marie Torrey Copp, New London, CT, their great-niece, by bequest, 1925; private collection, c 1955; Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon, Upperville, VA; Bequest of Mrs. Paul Mellon to NGA, 2014.

Associated Names

Bibliography

2005

  • Goodrich, Lloyd, and Abigail Booth Gerdts. Record of Works by Winslow Homer, vol. 3. New York: Spanierman Gallery, 2005, p. 231, no. 807.

Inscriptions

in watercolor, lower left: HOMER '79; in graphite, on verso: [unknown hand] 68 / White mat - no gilt - edge / show three inches / 1 1/2 [illegible] [diagram of frame moulding]; lower center: 14 x 18 3/4

Wikidata ID

Q64640391

You may be interested in

Loading Results