Maria A' Becket was a well listed American painter who is cited in many American art references of her era. She was born in 1840 in Portland, Maine, Daughter of Charles Beckett, a Maine Landscape and genre painter. In 1865 she studied with Homer Dodge Martin and later with William Morris Hunt in Boston. She was influenced by the Barbizon painters at Pont Aven and painted with the famous French painter Charles Daubigny during a trip to France. At this time she changed her name to A’ Becket.  Maria A’ Becket was a woman artist far ahead of her time; her palette is strong dense, deep with greens, burnt sienna, deep blues, and a mature loose brushstroke that one seldom acquires in a short artistic career displaying her natural talent as well as the experience gained by studying with the masters of early impressionism. Though her Barbizon influence is often stressed, this work reveals strong elements of Tonalism and Impressionism and is quite similar to her seminal work “Northern Lights”. She exhibited at the Boston Art Club in 1875, the National Gallery in 1883 and 1888, and at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts from 1880 to 1884 and the New York’s Women’s Club to name just a few. It is only recently that we have fully recognized the great talents of our American women painters and started to give them the praise which they so richly deserve. This new realization has made their works much in demand and valuable.

 This work, titled verso “Study of the Outdoors”, is in great condition considering it is a19th century painting. It is an exquisite oil on canvas that exudes her brilliant tonalist eye with wonderful impasto effects creating reflections and light play. It is signed front lower right and verso, has been professionally cleaned and fully guaranteed to be an original oil done and hand signed by Maria A. Becket.

Study of the Outdoors (oil on canvas, 13.5" x 19.5")
Gilded John Wanamaker frame, 18" x 24"