Impressionist artist Frank Weston Benson’s airy “Summer” delicately portrays ethereal women on a carefree, cloud-swept day. Featuring his daughters and friend Margaret Strong, “Summer” was inspired by his family. So elated were they by Benson’s depiction of their daughter, Strong's parents asked him to paint her individually. His graceful, idealized portraits of women, seascapes and landscapes captured the transient, ethereal qualities of light and atmosphere. Benson (1862 – 1951) also painted wildlife, and is regarded as one of the 20th century’s finest wildlife painters.

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