San Giorgio
Margery Gosnell-Qua (PiV ‘94)
SOLD
Oil on canvas
29 x 39 inches
1994
Framed
100% of proceeds benefit the Pratt in Venice Scholarship Fund.
While in the Pratt in Venice program in 1994, I was studying the Venetian Renaissance, and we visited the Church of the Salute. I walked to the point that juts out into the waters behind the church and saw Andrea Palladio’s San Giorgio Maggiore. I brought out my easel, canvas, and oils which I had with me because I had just come from the Pratt in Tuscany painting program. I set to work, the time flew, and I felt blessed to be in this spot for these few days. It was delightful to have the enthusiastic Venetians give me encouragement and critiques. At other moments, I had to learn to politely say, “Non disturbarmi per favore. Lavoro.” Excited by my work, I showed it to Professor Richards Ruben who said, “Remember when you paint the light and movement of the water, make sure the gesture is not only moving horizontally. It must also recede in space.” Later, when I showed him the finished painting, he said, “You did it.” The memories that are attached to this work are as precious as the painting itself.
The style in my painting of San Giorgio appears influenced by Monet, which may be true. After all, there is perhaps little chance of escaping that. However, I only saw Monet’s versions of this view later when I was back home. Rather, this was a point in my painting development when I needed to paint objects in and out of focus so that they became integrated with one another. I had been looking at reproductions of Gustave Klimt‘s paintings of light on the skin of his figures. His paint strokes created a type of translucency and a depth through layering. This proved especially informative as I painted the wind and atmosphere across the water toward this view of San Giorgio Maggiore.
Margery Gosnell-Qua (PiV ‘94) is an Assistant Professor of Art and Art History at Suffolk Community College in Riverhead, NY, where she teaches 2D Design, Art Appreciation, Color, Renaissance to Impressionism, and Drawing. She is also the Curator of the Lyceum Art Gallery at Suffolk County Community College in Riverhead, NY.
Ms. Gosnell-Qua’s paintings are in private collections in the US and in Europe. Her work was recently included in the public collection at the East End Hospice In-patient Facility (curator, Arlene Bujese). Gosnell-Qua's work has been displayed throughout the US at art fairs including Art Miami, Art Southampton, Art Market, Art Hamptons in Bridgehampton, and Art Silicon Valley.
Ms. Gosnell-Qua is a recipient of the NYFA Special Opportunity Stipend (2010) and is a NYFA Mark09 participant. She received the Long Island Artist Award at the Heckscher Art Museum in Huntington (2001), and her work was chosen for an "Award of Excellence" in 2009 at The Art League of Long Island in Deer Park (juror, Andrew Arnot of Tibor de Nagy Gallery). Her work is represented by George Billis Gallery in Chelsea, Quogue Gallery in Quogue, NY, and Fitzgerald Gallery in Westhampton Beach, NY.
Pratt in Venice alumna Margery Gosnell-Qua (‘94) with her work at the Connections group exhibition, guest curated by Arlene Bujese at Kathryn Markel Fine Arts, Bridgehampton, NY, in February 2020 (photo: courtesy of the artist).
