The son of a prolific painter, Emile Albert Gruppé was born in Rochester, New York, in 1896. He studied in Holland before permanently returning to the United States in 1913. There, he established himself as a forerunner of the Gloucester art colony, inspired by the seaport's scenery and connection to Impressionism. According to Carol Lowrey, "Gruppé's name became synonymous with vigorous portrayals of the boats, shorelines and the ever-changing skies of Cape Ann, but he was equally drawn to the scenery he encountered in the countryside of western New York and Vermont and along the coasts of Florida. The product of an artist lauded for his acute sensitivity for color, his penchant for robust brushwork and his careful study of nature, Gruppé's deftly rendered canvases are...replete with a sense of place as well as a palpable feeling of light and air." (Emile A. Gruppé (1896-1978), exhibition catalogue, New York, 2008, p. 2) Indeed, the present work's striking brushwork and impasto demonstrate the artist's lively style and the inspiration he drew from his surroundings.