Permanent Collection

Louis L. Betts (1873–1961) The Yellow Parasol c. 1925 Oil on canvas 50 x 40 inches Museum purchase; 1991.003

The lively brushstrokes and bright pastel colors evident in The Yellow Parasol are characteristics of Louis Betts's impressionistic paintings. Betts created The Yellow Parasol during his stay at an artists' colony in Old Lyme, Connecticut. The image of two women in flowing gowns recalls styles of the nineteenth century that existed long before Betts was born.

The luminosity of the painting's colors and the bold application of the brushstrokes may cause one to think that, as with many impressionists, Betts painted the image rapidly and out of doors. On the contrary, the artist often deliberated over his paintings for long periods of time.

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