Robinson passed the summers from 1888 to 1892 at the art colony surrounding Claude Monet in Giverny, creating canvases such as A Bird's Eye View of 1889 and The Old Mill of about 1892, both given to the Metropolitan in 1910. Returning to full-time residence in New York in December 1892, he sought inspiration for similarly tranquil, unprepossessing scenes in nearby locales. During much of summer 1894, Robinson worked in Cos Cob, a picturesque Connecticut village that preserved New England traditions and supported a flourishing colony dedicated to Impressionism. The largest of four similar canvases, Low Tide, Riverside Yacht Club describes the mudflats that make up more than half the width of the Mianus River at low tide. Across Cos Cob harbor appears the newly renovated Riverside Yacht Club, which was enjoying an influx of members. Sleek recreational boats, moored offshore, await excursionists. The Metropolitan's first American view by Robinson, this painting perfectly complements the two fine French canvases that the Museum acquired a century ago.

Open full-size image