Lighthouse in painting by Carle Blenner

Started by lnpeters, April 27, 2023, 01:03:16 PM

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lnpeters

I'm researching this beach-scene painting for the Greenville County Museum (South Carolina). The painting is in the museum's collection. It is by the American artist Carle Blenner (1862-1952) and depicts a lighthouse, which is visible in the upper right . The painting is not dated but based on its style, it was probably rendered in the early 1890s. It was sold at auction in 2015 with the title of The Lido. However, no aspects of it match those of The Lido in Venice. Other sites I've  looked into are Newport (where the artist spent time in the summer), Martha's Vineyard, Long Island, and Cape May, New Jersey. Experts have confirmed that it does not depict any of these locales. The artist lived in New Haven, Connecticut, and New York City. Blenner_beach_scene_Greenville_lo-res.jpg The lighthouse appears to me to be American but the artist did spend much time in Europe. There are architectural and landscape elements in the scene suggesting that the site is an actual and specific one. Any help anyone can provide about the lighthouse would be extremely appreciated in helping to determine the locale depicted in the painting.

mitko

Interesting topic! Need to do some research then revert.
Best regards,
Dmitry

lnpeters

Thanks, any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

mitko

#3
It's always tricky to identify lighthouse on the old painting due to it could be demolished, rebuild or painter could be not very accurate in the details of construction. Anyway let's assume that it still exist and looks relatively same.
Before we move to Europe i would like to check have you considered following options in US:

Connecticut / Five Mile Point lighthouse
https://www.lightphotos.net/photos/thumbnails.php?album=light&cat=0&pid=21066

Connecticut / New London Harbor lighthouse
https://www.lightphotos.net/photos/thumbnails.php?album=light&cat=0&pid=4248

New Jersey / Sandy Hook lighthouse
https://www.lightphotos.net/photos/thumbnails.php?album=light&cat=0&pid=22887

All of them are:
  • Tall but relatively thick comparing to classic towers
  • Within described age
  • Have relatively small lantern on top comparing to tower width
  • Round or octagonal conic form
  • Except Sandy Hill have a nice beach nearby where the painter could work

So what do you think?

PS I also find few places called Lido Beach - one in NY, one in FL but there is no (and seems never been) lighthouses nearby.
Best regards,
Dmitry

lnpeters

Dmitry,
Thank you so much for this help and suggestions! I'm going to check into these. New Haven would make sense because Blenner studied at Yale U Art School (he graduated in 1885) and later taught there.
This image is suggestive of the painting's topography
http://www.newenglandlighthouses.net/five-mile-point-light-history.html
this one shows bath houses on the beach:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/304925769538?hash=item46fefdff42:g:3SkAAOSw6wxkVYhs&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA4IO6RmUCR%2BRxos0%2FqVoUb0twh2EMC%2BCIqhuvdIOLHvCjpMO994q9HG%2FNvNYFOO0Y5RygElVoS6a8S%2FHUMZA6G%2BRhb1Gt5P3doLWohOauZlmy%2Fok%2FmXWv40eCDFZkDGQVsi7qIYQq8i%2BlA16yYehbwWHYXAOUfpsw32ih%2ByEzxa5ESdLhqj8jdtEAbNwFKe2HMixclkRSUDzTTp1VdnW%2BDfumY2pG8p5rG%2FBYQ5vDzBRfwCTuVjdpNh6oyUGgAzni476HIWe0%2Fj4RwCnlwizsHmulXGMjh7%2Fu5oLv978AHc3B%7Ctkp%3ABFBMwKCegf9h

but other images don't match up all that well. I'll send an inquiry to the New Haven Historical Society. The lighthouse was built in 1804 and became inactive in 1877, but still exists in Lighthouse Point Park


New London looks too rocky and may have been too remote for that kind of tourist activity.
Will keep the site posted. Lisa 


mitko

Lisa, let me know results. We can continue search if there will be negative answer.
Best regards,
Dmitry

lnpeters

The site is identified! It's definitely Lighthouse Point in New Haven, Connecticut, and confirmed with the New Haven Museum/Historical Society. The lighthouse was erected in 1804 and became inactive in 1877 but left standing and is today a protected national historic landmark. There is an old carousel on the beach but the bath houses are no longer there. I'm now hoping that there will be a way to date the painting. It's undated but it looks like other works by Blenner from the early 1890s. I should be receiving some more information from the museum. Thanks again! Lisa

mitko

Great to hear! Good luck in further research!
Best regards,
Dmitry

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