Artwork
At Marblehead Neck
At Marblehead Neck is a print by the Impressionist artist James David Smillie. It dates from 1883 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
The sky is light but textured, and the whole scene feels sketchy and quick—like it was drawn fast.
This sketch shows a quiet coastal scene with rough rocks and scrubby bushes in the foreground. A few sheep graze near the shore, while the water stretches out to a distant island. The sky is light but textured, and the whole scene feels sketchy and quick—like it was drawn fast.
The artist focused on rough textures, from the jagged rocks to the wispy grass. It’s not polished; it’s raw, almost like a quick note of a real place.
Next, check out James David Smillie (American, 1833–1909) to see more of his work.
Overview
At Marblehead Neck is a print by James David Smillie, created in 1883. It is part of the collection at The Cleveland Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a serene coastal scene with rugged rocks and sparse vegetation in the foreground, sheep grazing near the shore, and a distant island in the water. The textured sky adds to the overall sense of a quickly observed natural setting.
Technique & Style
Smillie's work is characterized by its emphasis on rough textures, capturing the jaggedness of rocks and the wispy quality of grass. The print has a raw, unpolished quality, suggesting a rapid notation of the scene.
Artist & collection
Artist
James David Smillie was an American artist, cofounder of the American Watercolor Society and New York Etching Club. His brother was painter George Henry Smillie.
