James D. Herbert 1896 - 1970

Art historians categorize, critics analyze and painters, well they just paint. The power of a Herbert painting lies not in words, but in its direct, visceral impact—the movement of pigment, the saturation of watercolor on paper and the precision of a single stroke engaging the senses.

In the watercolors of James Drummond Herbert, you see a luminous blue gown, a decisive contour or a translucent wash—each element reveals the artist’s assured hand. His figures—dancers, nobles, and pensive women—captivate the viewer. The artist’s experienced hand takes you on a visual journey amidst aspiring dancers, Renaissance nobles and pensive actresses. 

Background

James Herbert grew up in New York City where he attended the Art Student’s League from 1920-1929, taking several years off to study in Paris.  Among his Art League instructors were Robert Henri and Kenneth Hayes Miller.  Classmates, such as Reginald Marsh, joined Herbert in exploring the figure within new imaginative contexts unlike previous art generations. There was an emphasis on the simplicity of line to capture movement and form.  However, it was Herbert’s Paris study that would influence his work profoundly.  The layers of colorful washes emphasize the fanciful and exotic costumes often seen in his painted dancers and models paying tribute to French European masters such as Jean-Honoré Fragonard (1732  - 1806).

Musketeers & French Court

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