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A view of sailboats in a harbor at night with moonlight falling on the water at the center of t…
The Path of Light
A view of sailboats in a harbor at night with moonlight falling on the water at the center of t…
A view of sailboats in a harbor at night with moonlight falling on the water at the center of the composition. A woman stands before a cottage at the lower right.
The Path of Light, Gifford Beal, 1922, oil on canvas, Telfair Museum of Art, Savannah, Georgia.

The Path of Light

Artist (American, 1879 - 1956)
Date1922
MediumOil on canvas
DimensionsCanvas: 20 1/4 × 30 1/4 inches (51.4 × 76.8 cm)
Framed: 27 1/8 × 37 1/8 × 2 9/16 inches (68.9 × 94.3 × 6.5 cm)
Credit LineMuseum purchase.
Object number1925.1
On View
On view
CopyrightThe images and text contained on this page are owned by Telfair Museums or used by the Museum with permission from the owners. Unauthorized reproduction, transmission or display of these materials is prohibited with the exception of items deemed “fair use” as defined by U.S. and international copyright laws.Label TextGifford Beal drew his inspiration from his deep love for his native New York City and his summers spent in the coastal harbor town of Rockport, Massachusetts. When he was just twelve years old, Beal studied art with renowned American Impressionist William Merritt Chase. He graduated from Princeton University in 1900, and then returned to New York City where he studied under Robert Henri and adopted the aesthetic of the Ashcan school. Henri described Beal’s work as being “born of wit, and good humored love of people and things—seems to have come forth spontaneously—a love song.” Beal became president of the Art Students League in 1914 and served in that capacity until 1929, guiding future generations to explore progressive and experimental trends in American painting. Throughout his long career, Beal received countless awards and commissions, gaining well-deserved recognition for his contributions to American art.
Subject MatterRockport, Massachusetts, United States of America
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