The MermaidHoward Pyle · 1910

Identification of The Mermaid by Howard Pyle

The artwork titled The Mermaid was executed by the American artist Howard Pyle. This oil on canvas painting dates to 1910. The physical dimensions of the work measure 57 7/8 x 40 1/8 inches.

The piece was left unfinished by Pyle when he departed the United States for Europe in November 1910. The completion of the work was later handled by his student, Frank Schoonover. The painting is currently held in the collections of the Delaware Art Museum and the Norman Rockwell Museum.

Visual Composition and Subject Matter

The composition centers on an embrace between a mermaid and a man at the edge of a rock in the sea. The mermaid is adorned with coral beads in her hair, a gold necklace, and a bracelet. She holds a man who wears a loincloth and a red cap. The surrounding water is turquoise, marked by patches of white foam. Near the figures, a fish and a crab are visible within the marine environment.

The background features a pink sky where a yellow sun sits on the horizon. The lighting casts a bluish hue across the skin of the man and the mermaid. The scene is set against a backdrop of turbulent water and rocky textures. The horizon line is positioned low, emphasizing the expanse of the sky and the movement of the sea.

History and Provenance of the Work

The creation of this oil painting remained incomplete when Howard Pyle departed the United States in November 1910. He traveled to Europe and subsequently passed away in Florence, Italy, the following year. Following his departure, his student Frank Schoonover completed the work, adding specific details such as a crab and various fish to the scene. The finished canvas measures 57 7/8 by 40 1/8 inches.

The provenance of the piece involves several members of the artist's family. Records indicate the work was held by Mrs. Roberts Brokaw (Phoebe Pyle) and Mrs. Willard G. Chrichton (Eleanor Pyle). The lineage of ownership continued through Theodore Pyle, Howard Pyle Jr., Godfrey Pyle, and Wilfrid Pyle. In 1940, the children of Howard Pyle donated the painting. This gift was made in memory of their mother, Anne Poole Pyle.