Museum acquires rare still life

HARTFORD, CT -- The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art has acquired a unique still life by the agency of the Impressionist painter Alfred Sisley, who produc chiefly landscape works and only a not many still lifes during his lifetime (1839-1899) "The Pike," painted in 1888 is an oil upon canvas that has remained in an superior state of preservation. The unvarnished surface reveals Sisley's rapid brush blows which capture the iridescent sheen of the fish's scales, the flat surfaces of its pale throat and the vivid outlines of its chaps "The Pike," which was purchased in honor of Helene and Mark Eisner, by dint of exchange, will hang in the exhibition, "Old Masters/New Directions: A Decade of Collecting," end Dec. 18.

This is an important acquisition for Wadsworth Atheneum's collection of French Impressionists because it is the first still life--a major make submissive for the Impressionists--and also the first work to be included in the collection by dint of Sisley. The piece belonged to the distinguished Swiss collector, Dr Fritz Nathan, before the acquisition, on the contrary the original owner of "The Pike" was Jean-Baptiste Faure, an early and important patron of the Impressionists and friend to Sisley.

Sisley was born to British parents in Paris and after meeting with companion future Impressionists, Bazille, Monet and Renoir, he adhered to this approach quite through his career. Bazille and Sisley worked closely together in the mid-1960s. Bazille also painted a still life of a pike, which is similar to the later painting by means of Sisley. Unfortunately, the artist not at any time achieved financial success.

For more information, visit www.wadsworthatheneum.org.

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