Technique

Blue and Orange: Sweet Shop, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

The pale turquoise-blue band across the top of the shop contrasts strongly with the predominantly dark brown tones of the painting, which is on a grey primed panel. It is difficult to make out the technique because of the condition of the panel. However, it is clear that for all its small size, it was painted with quite bold strokes of thin paint. The square brushstrokes on the wall have an almost abstract quality, complementing the geometrical grid of the shop front. On the other hand, the detail of the child in white bonnet and apron, looking in the window, was expressively painted with smaller brushes.

Conservation History

Blue and Orange: Sweet Shop, photograph

There is fine crazing (craquelure) over the entire surface.

Frame

Small Dowdeswell, frame possibly made by Charles Mitchell May, 1886 [11.1 cm]. 1