Artwork
June
June is a watercolor drawing by Roswell Morse Shurtleff. It dates from 1910 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
“June” is a watercolor on wove paper executed around 1910 by American artist Roswell Morse Shurtleff. The work measures modestly and presents a tranquil outdoor scene rendered in delicate washes. Its composition centers on a solitary figure seated on a gentle hill, surrounded by scattered wildflowers under a softly diffused sky.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a young woman in a white dress, turned away from the viewer, seated on a grassy slope. The figure appears unposed, suggesting a fleeting, contemplative moment in nature. The surrounding flora and the hazy blue atmosphere convey a sense of quiet repose and the fleeting quality of early summer.
Technique & Style
Shurtleff employs a glazing method, applying multiple translucent layers of watercolor to build depth and luminous warmth. This approach, more elaborate than the rapid sketches typical of the period, allows subtle modulation of light across the sky and landscape. The delicate handling of color and line creates a soft, atmospheric effect characteristic of early 20th‑century American watercolor.
History & Provenance
Created in the early 1900s, “June” reflects Shurtleff’s mature phase when he explored more refined watercolor techniques. The work has remained in private collections since its inception, with limited exhibition history, and is documented in the artist’s catalogue raisonné as a representative example of his summer-themed subjects.
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