Point Judith, Rhode Island

1867–68

Martin Johnson Heade

(American, 1819–1904)

Culture

America

Medium

oil on canvas

Measurements

Framed: 97 x 153.5 x 14 cm (38 3/16 x 60 7/16 x 5 1/2 in.); Unframed: 72.3 x 128 cm (28 7/16 x 50 3/8 in.)

Credit Line

Mr. and Mrs. William H. Marlatt Fund and Gift of Delbert Gutridge in memory of Orrel A. Parker by exchange 1970.161

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Location

206 American Landscape

Did You Know?

Home to Point Judith, the beach town of Narragansett has its population double during summertime.

Description

One of only a handful of nocturnal scenes painted by Heade, this evocative painting captures the effects of glimmering moonlight on land, sea, and sky. Although the artist depicts a specific location, his nighttime rendering shrouds most details in shadow, imparting a greater sense of mood than place. Human presence manifests itself through two sailing ships on the left side of the composition.