The Return from Mass, Valencia, Spain
Artist
Francisco Gras
(Spanish, 1897-1941)
CultureSpanish
Dateca. 1920
MediumOil on canvas
Dimensions34 x 32 in. (86.4 x 81.3 cm)
Overall, Frame: 47 x 42 x 4 in. (119.4 x 106.7 x 10.2 cm)
Overall, Frame: 47 x 42 x 4 in. (119.4 x 106.7 x 10.2 cm)
SignedLower left: Frans. Gras.
Credit LineGift of Richard Waitzer in honor of Leah Waitzer’s birthday, and Walter P. Chrysler, Jr. by exchange
Object number2010.12
Not on view
DescriptionThis is an oil on canvas painting of two young girls in dresses and veils, carrying prayer books or Bibles, returning from Mass.Label TextFrancisco Gras Spanish, 1897–1941 The Return from Mass, Valencia, Spain, ca. 1920 Oil on canvas Two girls return from Mass, their prayer books in hand, in the seaside town of Valencia. Although they both wear white, the brilliant Mediterranean sun transforms their dresses and veils into a vibrant sea of color. Swaths of purple, blue, orange, and yellow come to life through Francisco Gras’ broad, sketchy brushstrokes. Only the girls’ squinting faces anchor our vision and keep the image from going completely abstract. Gift of Richard Waitzer, in honor of Leah Waitzer’s birthday, and Walter P. Chrysler, Jr., by exchange 2010.12 ProvenancePrivate collection, United States; Thomas Colville, New York, 2010; Gift of Richard Waitzer, Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, VA, 2010.Exhibition History"Upstairs/Downstairs: Masterpieces from the Chrylser Collection," Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, VA, October 10 - December 30, 2012.
