Artwork of the Week: June 29
Utah native Lee Greene Richards (1878-1950) was known for his skill in portraiture, but also painted landscapes and murals. Determined to cultivate his artistic abilities, Richards studied in France from 1901 to 1904. Painted in 1904, Summer Evening depicts a calm scene with a towering tree as the focal point. Surrounded by greenery, two natural paths emerge, one leading to an architectural structure in the distance. Considering the nature of this scene as well as the context of the time period, it is possible that this painting captures a European scene.
Here, Richards plays with the properties of light and color. The natural plant life is painted in deep and vibrant greens, juxtaposed with light and soft yellows peeking through the outer leaves of the tree. Various shades of yellow and orange are scattered among the grass and outline the natural forms in the painting. It evokes the feeling of a warm summer day fading quietly to a close.
