“Each time Benson began a new motif or medium, the praise was instant, the demand overwhelming. …Few artists have had so long or successful a career in so many media. And each new venture began on North Haven.” – From the chapter Evening Light.

Frank W. Benson (1862 - 1951) is considered to be one of the most beloved American artists; his work in oil and watercolor paintings, etchings, drypoints, and more all led to accolades from both colleagues and critics.

Benson’s paintings sold almost as quickly as he could make them, and have been featured in major museums across the country. A majority of his most important works were created on North Haven Island in Maine’s Penobscot Bay at his summer home, Wooster Farm. His years on North Haven not only provided Benson with the natural and light-filled environments for which his artwork is so well-known and recognizable but also inspired him to experiment with new media such as etchings and watercolor paintings.

This volume of the story of Benson’s life and artwork on North Haven will be published in conjunction with an exhibition organized by the Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland, Maine in the summer of 2012, 150 years after Benson’s birth. Many of his North Haven works will return to Maine where they will provide the visitor with an opportunity to consider how his life and work were affected by his time on North Haven.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Faith Andrews Bedford is a writer, curator, and expert on Frank W. Benson. In addition to numerous articles and essays on Benson, her books include Frank W. Benson: American Impressionist and The Sporting Art of Frank W. Benson.

IMPRESSIONIST SUMMERS: Frank W. Benson’s North Haven
By Faith Andrews Bedford
In association with the Farnsworth Art Museum, Rockland, Maine
Skira Rizzoli, an imprint of Rizzoli New York
Hardcover / 8¾” x 9¾” / 128 pages / 126 color and b&w illustrations
PRICE: $40 U.S., $40 Canada, £25 U.K.
ISBN: 978-0-8478-3906-3
PUBLICATION DATE: June 2012
*************
EXHIBITION INFORMATION

Farnsworth Art Museum, Rockland, Maine: June 16-October 21, 2012