Sunlight and Invitation

Venus In The Atrium

On the north shore of Long Island, about halfway between New York City and its eastern end is Setauket. Here, the artist William de Leftwich Dodge (1867-1935) built his dream home and studio, a Greek Revival style mansion he called Villa Francesca - named for his wife. It certainly looks like a wonderful place in which to live and paint! What strikes me about this painting is how  beautifully composed it is - with the sunlight spilling into the room, creating a scene of warmth and coziness with all elements working together to lead the eye around the painting but always returning to the sunlight on the floor. You can see this wonderful painting at the Metropolitan Museum of Art… beautiful!