Paradise Rocks—Study at Paradise, Newport, Rhode Island

La Farge employs layered washes of watercolor alongside opaque gouache, using gum arabic to enhance surface sheen and depth. The mixture of transparent and solid pigments allows the water to echo the sky’s hues, while the textured application conveys the ruggedness of the rocks and foliage.

Created during a period when La Farge was active in illustration, mural design, and stained‑glass projects, the study reflects his participation in the American Impressionist movement. It entered the American Wing collection of the museum in the early twentieth century, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings.