Maurice Brazil Prendergast

Maurice Brazil Prendergast 1859-1924, American painter, b. St. John's, N.L., Canada, educated in Boston. In 1886 he worked his way to Europe on a cattle boat and studied in Paris at Julian's and at the Colarossi Academy. His brother, Charles Prendergast (1869-1948), an artist and frame maker, often assisted him financially. He again went abroad in the early 1890s, and during the rest of his life he gravitated between New York City and Europe, visiting various countries. In New York he joined the independent group of artists called the Eight . Prendergast evolved a style akin to postimpressionism. Much freer in his brushstroke, his landscapes and figure compositions evoked the quality of a gay tapestry. His Promenade, Gloucester (Whitney Mus., New York City) is characteristic. He is well represented in the Barnes Foundation, Merion, Pa., and in other leading collections throughout the United States.

Bibliography: See catalog by R. J. Wattenmaker (1968); studies by M. Bruening (1931) and H. H. Rhys (1960).

Prendergast, Maurice (b St John's, Newfoundland, 10 Oct. 1859; d New York, 1 Feb. 1924). Canadian-born American painter and printmaker. He was a member of The Eight, but stood somewhat apart from the rest of the group. Boston was his home for most of his life and he spent much of his career travelling and painting abroad; it was only in 1914 that he moved to New York, the centre of The Eight's activities. The main thing he had in common with other members was a desire to revive American art from academic stagnation, and his work is remarkable for its brilliant decorative colour. His paintings were often of people enjoying themselves in innocent pleasures (Central Park in 1903, 1903, Met. Mus., New York). He was one of the first American artists to be influenced by Post-Impressionism, notably in the way in which he emphasized flat pattern rather than illusionistic space. In 1913 he showed seven works in the Armory Show and at this time he stood out as one of the most stylistically advanced American artists. Most of his paintings were in watercolour, but in later years he turned increasingly to oils. He also made about 200 monotypes (mainly between 1891 and 1902), an unusually large oeuvre for this medium.