On the Piazza, 1908
Oil on canvas
Gift of Mrs. Elizabeth Chadwick O’Connell 1975.7.1

Employing a lush Impressionist palette, Chadwick conveys the pastoral setting of the Griswold estate. Pink hollyhocks can be seen at the left, grapevines cover the porch, and a garden of roses, daylilies, and perennials can be seen in the distance. The varied hues of the garden suggest the multitude of flowers growing in Florence Griswold’s garden.

The positioning of the garden near the house was in keeping with early 20th century advice for augmenting the home. Depicting a young woman who exists on the threshold between the indoors and outdoors, Chadwick links the early architecture of the house with the equally “old-fashioned” garden beyond.