A Fisherman's House

(1879–1931)

Size: 24 x 29 1/2 inches (61 x 74.9 cm)
Medium: Oil on canvas
Signed lower right: Robert Spencer
Why We Love It

Though painted in the early 20th century during the rise of industrialism and the modern age, the quiet nature of this village scene evokes the simple life of a bygone era. Spencer captures the mood of this peaceful house by the river through his subdued palette of subtle earth tones as well as his delicate broken brushwork.

The Value

Spencer was different from his fellow painters in New Hope in that he was more influenced by the grit of the Ashcan School than the cheer of the American Impressionists. He was a favorite of the celebrated collector Duncan Phillips, who purchased 8 paintings that are still part of the Phillips Collection in Washington, DC today. This work is Spencer at his very best.