The Blue Porch [The Ledges, Newport]

1909

The elegant life of leisure-indoors and outdoors-was the subject matter for many well-connected, affluent, turn-of-the-century Boston painters. Cushing's style drew on this desire to portray the refinement and taste of the family at rest in their summery surroundings, but also showed his knowledge of the perspective employed by the Japanese Ukiyo-e printmakers and the French Impressionists. Almost a snapshot of his wife, Ethel, clad in a Chinese robe, and her sister, Ann, perched on the porch railing, this painting is a beautifully composed view at The Ledges, in Newport, overlooking Ocean Drive. The house is now painted white, but it remains intact, as is the view. Once again the artist has incorporated his figures two-dimensionally rather than three-dimensionally into the overall design.

Newport/New York

Oil on canvas

framed: 54 1/2 in x 42 1/2 in; Image: 48 in x 36 in

Deed of gift of the Howard G. Cushing Memorial Committee

1920.001.011