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SMITH, Henry Pember (1854 - 1914). Connecticut Homestead. Oil and canvas laid down on board. Signed l.r.: 'Henry P. Smith.' Canvas size: 25 x 35 inches; framed size: 31 3/4 x 41 1/2 inches. This splendid landscape of Connecticut is a fine example of Henry Pember Smith?s rich use of light. As a native to Connecticut, the painter was not short of beautiful scenery to capture on canvas. After years abroad, Smith returned to his home state and painted extensively, focusing on the Dutch farm houses that dotted the land since the first settlers arrived in the region. The similarity of Smith?s paintings from this time period is evident in that each work in endowed with a particular glow, reminiscent of pre-dawn or dusk. While Smith is widely remembered for his paintings of New York and New England, he is most well known for his Venetian scenes. His love of travel also took him to Spain, Italy, England, and France, where he painted and exhibited his work to appreciative audiences. A specialist in marine and landscape views, Henry Pember Smith was born in Waterford, Connecticut in 1854. Little is known about his early training or his career before 1877, when he set up a studio in New York City. It is generally assumed that he was self- taught. From 1877 on, Smith exhibited regularly at the National Academy of Design, although he never became a member. Smith also exhibited at the American Watercolor Society and the Artists' Fund. Smith?s landscapes are his best known works. Working primarily in oils and watercolors, and using a tighter technique than the emerging impressionists of his time, Smith was a true realist. This gorgeous painting of Connecticut represents a rare opportunity for collectors of American painters, as it shows the true range of the artist?s talents.