This matted and framed piece, titled "Back Bay — 1921" signed by the artist J. Robert Burnell, captures a serene yet atmospheric wetland landscape featuring a trio of waterfowl in flight. The art is matted, art is 20" x 13 1/2". Numbered 401/450 & signed. There is a small water mark on lower left of matting, not on the artwork itself.
Subject Matter: The composition portrays a wide expanse of coastal or marshy bay water under an expansive sky. A dramatic, soft-edged cloud formation dominates the mid-ground, while pine trees and marsh grass line the shoreline. Three swans or large geese glide gracefully across the sky in mid-flight.
Medium & Style: The piece reflects classic wildlife and landscape realism, executed with a smooth, blended approach (characteristic of fine art prints, lithography, or traditional oil/acrylic painting techniques). The artist uses a muted, atmospheric palette dominated by serene blues, soft grays, and natural earth tones to evoke a tranquil, early-morning or overcast mood.
Presentation: It is professionally matted in a deep blue-teal archival mat with a custom brass-engraved title plaque identifying both the piece ("Back Bay — 1921") and the artist ("J. Robert Burnell").
Identity: J. Robert Burnell is recognized as a traditional landscape and wildlife artist whose works often lean into historical or nostalgic American settings, capturing regional nature scenes with an eye for subtle atmospheric light and native fauna.
Focus: Artists working in this genre typically focus on preserving the quiet, untouched beauty of natural habitats, blending ornithological accuracy in the depiction of birds like waterfowl with traditional landscape painting principles.