Francis A. Silva
A tranquil view of an American northeast beach, it is a work which wins over with its beautiful luminosity, color and light. A well dressed couple, with three others a bit more distant, enjoy a long pause to admire the majesty of the ocean, the ships sailing upon the water and the view of Long Island Sound from the Connecticut shore. A beached lifeboat dory holds its position between the dune grass and the shore break under a magnificent sky of clouds and colors.
Silva strove to paint an overall composition in which to express a sense of relaxed enjoyment, perfecting the content with subtle manipulation of soft light and bare touches of an emerging luminous atmosphere. These qualities often set his paintings apart from other artists. He would travel extensively along the Eastern seaboard in search of inspirational subjects. Note the care he used to portray the wind-driven clouds into different layers and shapes, showing a great sense of distance within the oil painting. Silva would revisit this setting over the years; this is a fine version from the artist's best period with the desired colorful, glowing hues which are found only in his finest accomplishments.
