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Student Artwork Guide

The Hermit Thrush

Name Class Date

Thomas Wilmer Dewing, The Hermit Thrush (1890). Public domain. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist
Thomas Wilmer Dewing originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/thomas-wilmer-dewing/
Artist’s dates
1851 – 1938
Painted
1890
Original size
88 x 117 cm

In context

The Hermit Thrush — Thomas Wilmer Dewing

How big is it?

The original measures 88 × 117 cm (height × width), drawn here beside an adult of average height.

When was this painted?

  1. 1850
  2. 1860
  3. 1870
  4. 1880
  5. 1890
  6. 1900
  7. 1910
  8. 1920
  9. 1930

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 87 at death.

Painted when the artist was 39. The artist lived to 87. 11 of the 70 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.

Shaded: the lifetime of Thomas Wilmer Dewing (1851–1938) ▲ this work, 1890 every dated painting, decade by decade

First works: up to 1890 Main working years: 1890–1907 Late works: from 1907

Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/thomas-wilmer-dewing-the-hermit-thrush-AQZHCJ-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Sap Green #58664c

    Catalogued palette

    • #58664C
    • #89907A
    • #6B7A5D
    • #424E3C

    These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

    Main colour name
    Sap Green
    Intensity
    Balanced How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Serene How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Unified Palette How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Balanced How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Subtle Color How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Thomas Wilmer Dewing over the last twelve months — 7 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 75.6%
    2. 2 United States of America 9.8%
    3. 3 Hong Kong 4.9%
    4. 4 Japan 2.4%
    5. 5 Malaysia 2.4%
    6. 6 Poland 2.4%
    7. 7 Singapore 2.4%

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 20 most looked-at works by Thomas Wilmer Dewing

    1. 1 The Recitation 16.3%
    2. 2 BeforeAMirror, 1910 8.2%
    3. 3 The Song, 1891 6.1%
    4. 4 Lady with a Cello 4.1%
    5. 5 The Hermit Thrush, 1893 4.1%
    6. 6 Green and Gold 4.1%
    7. 7 Woman in a Blue Dress 4.1%
    8. 8 Mrs. Delancey Kane (Eleanora A. Iselin) (ca. 1851 1938), (painting), 1888 4.1%
    9. 9 Music, 1895 2.0%
    10. 10 Lady in White (No. 1), 1910 2.0%
    11. 11 Summer (also known as Moonrise), 1893 2.0%
    12. 12 The Pink Dress, 1894 2.0%
    13. 13 A Reading, 1897 2.0%
    14. 14 In the Garden, 1894 2.0%
    15. 15 The Hermit Thrush, 1890 this painting 2.0%
    16. 16 Lady in Blue, 1910 2.0%
    17. 17 The Song and the Cello, 1910 2.0%
    18. 18 Portrait of a Lady, 1895 2.0%
    19. 19 Woman in Pink 2.0%
    20. 20 Lady in Blue, Portrait of Annie Lazarus, 1890 2.0%

    Together these works take 75.1% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 115 works by this artist, of which 32 were looked at at least once. This painting ranks 15 of them, with 2.0% of that attention. The same counts, month by month

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    About this artwork

    The Hermit Thrush — Thomas Wilmer Dewing

    The Hermit Thrush is a beautiful oil on canvas painting created by Thomas Wilmer Dewing in 1890. This stunning piece of art measures 88 x 117 cm and is currently housed at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. The painting depicts two people standing in a serene landscape, surrounded by lush green trees and a grassy field.

    Artistic Elements and Techniques

    The Hermit Thrush showcases Thomas Wilmer Dewing's mastery of capturing the beauty of nature. The use of oil on canvas allows for a depth and richness of color that is characteristic of his work. The painting's composition, with its emphasis on horizontal lines and soft brushstrokes, creates a sense of tranquility and peacefulness. Key features of the painting include:

    The use of muted colors to create a sense of calm and serenity

    The depiction of two people in a natural setting, emphasizing the connection between humans and nature

    The attention to detail in the rendering of the trees and foliage, showcasing Dewing's skill as a landscape painter

    The Hermit Thrush is not only a beautiful painting but also an important work in the context of American art. Thomas Wilmer Dewing was a prominent figure in the Tonalist movement, which emphasized the use of color and light to create moody and atmospheric effects. For those interested in learning more about Thomas Wilmer Dewing and his work, https://AllPaintingsStore.com offers a range of resources, including information on his life and career, as well as high-quality reproductions of his paintings. The Smithsonian American Art Museum also provides extensive information on the painting, including its history and significance.

    The Hermit Thrush is a captivating painting that showcases Thomas Wilmer Dewing's skill as an artist and his ability to capture the beauty of nature. Its serene and peaceful atmosphere makes it a must-see for anyone interested in American art and the Tonalist movement. Visit https://AllPaintingsStore.com to learn more about this stunning painting and to explore the world of handmade oil painting reproductions.

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Thomas Wilmer Dewing

    Born in Boston, United States of America

    **early life and training**

    thomas wilmer dewing, an american painter, was born on may 4, 1851, in boston, massachusetts. his artistic journey began with a lithographic apprenticeship, which later led him to the prestigious académie julian in paris, where he studied under gustave boulanger and jules lefebvre starting from 1887.

    **artistic style and notable works**

    dewing's artistic style is characterized by his tonalist paintings, a genre deeply rooted in english aestheticism. his preferred subjects were aristocratic women, often depicted in moody, dreamlike surroundings, playing instruments or engaging in introspective activities. woman in black: portrait of maria oakey dewing (1887), a poignant oil on panel, showcases his wife, an accomplished painter with extensive formal art training. *lady in gold* (1912), now at the brooklyn museum, exemplifies his mastery of capturing the essence of his subjects.

    **teaching and associations**

    dewing was a founding member of the ten american painters in 1898 and taught at the art students league of new york. his association with the society of landscape painters, founded in 1899, further solidified his position within the tonalist movement.

    **legacy and collections**

    * the freer gallery of art at the smithsonian institution has a dedicated room for dewing's works. * notable collectors include john gellatly and charles lang freer.

    view thomas wilmer dewing's collection on AllPaintingsStore

    more on thomas dewing at wikipedia

    explore the freer gallery of art at the smithsonian institution for more tonalist masterpieces.

    **later life and death**

    dewing's artistic output declined after 1920. he passed away in new york on november 5, 1938, leaving behind a legacy of captivating, ethereal portraits that continue to intrigue art enthusiasts. *key works and collections available for reproduction at AllPaintingsStore: the white dress woman in black: portrait of maria oakey dewing lady in gold discover the world's most famous paintings with AllPaintingsStore's extensive collection

    Where to read more

    • The artist Thomas Wilmer Dewing originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/thomas-wilmer-dewing/
    • Similar works More works to compare originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/thomas-wilmer-dewing-the-hermit-thrush-AQZHCJ-en/

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for The Hermit Thrush

    originaluniqueart.com/en/art/download/thomas-wilmer-dewing-the-hermit-thrush-AQZHCJ-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Dewing, Thomas Wilmer. The Hermit Thrush. 1890, https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/thomas-wilmer-dewing-the-hermit-thrush-AQZHCJ-en/
    APA
    Dewing, Thomas Wilmer (1890). The Hermit Thrush [Painting]. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/thomas-wilmer-dewing-the-hermit-thrush-AQZHCJ-en/
    Chicago
    Thomas Wilmer Dewing. The Hermit Thrush. 1890. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/thomas-wilmer-dewing-the-hermit-thrush-AQZHCJ-en/
    Harvard
    Dewing, Thomas Wilmer (1890) The Hermit Thrush. Available at: https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/thomas-wilmer-dewing-the-hermit-thrush-AQZHCJ-en/

    Look closely

    The Hermit Thrush — Thomas Wilmer Dewing

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. Look back at Comedia (1894), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
    4. Thomas Wilmer Dewing was about 39 when this was made. What in it looks like the work of an artist at that stage?
    5. What might the artist have wanted you to feel?

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the dominant color of "The Hermit Thrush" by Thomas Wilmer Dewing?

    The color that stands out most in "The Hermit Thrush" is sap green (#58664c). The dominant color is useful when matching an artwork to an interior.

    What aliases or alternate names does Thomas Wilmer Dewing have?

    Other names recorded for Thomas Wilmer Dewing, creator of "The Hermit Thrush", include Thomas W. Dewing, T. W. Dewing, Thomas Dewing.

    Is "The Hermit Thrush" by Thomas Wilmer Dewing a bright or a dark artwork?

    Overall, "The Hermit Thrush" is recorded as balanced. Perceived brightness describes how light or dark the work appears.