This is the first exhibition to present the seaside work of the Post-Impressionist painter Maurice Prendergast (1858-1924), whose sophisticated and sensitive renderings of beaches, coves, and bathers were often inspired by his visits to Maine. The exhibition brings together works with identifiable locations in Maine and elsewhere, with paintings whose "place" is not defined by geography but by their context in the grand traditions of western art.

Without our generous donors, this exhibition would not be possible. We are deeply appreciative to major sponsors, the Devonwood Foundation, The Mr. and Mrs. Raymond J. Horowitz Foundation for the Arts, Eric ’85 and Svetlana Silverman, and the Elizabeth B. G. Hamlin Fund at Bowdoin College. Generous additional support for the exhibition has been provided by The Robert Lehman Foundation, Carolyn Logan P’12, the Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust, Thomas A. McKinley ’06, and an anonymous donor; we are also grateful to Furthermore: a program of the J. M. Kaplan Fund for support of our exhibition catalogue.