Orange Branch

In the summer of 1881, La Farge established a decorative art atelier in the Century Building in New York, located at 33 East 17th Street overlooking Union Square. In this bustling workshop, artisans and artists assisted him in executing commissions for domestic, civic, or ecclesiastical clients. In early 1883, a newspaper article described a tour of the facilities, noting in particular a female assistant at work on this painting. She reportedly worked from a small, now-lost sketch by La Farge. This painting displays qualities associated with a studio hand. The handling is competent but unexceptional. It follows La Farge's general style without demonstrating the quality associated with works from his own hand. The signature clearly is not an autograph, though it is similar to other signatures appearing on studio works produced by La Farge's assistants during the early 1880s. Another painting of similar scale, subject matter, and handling recently surfaced (Private Collection). Both works probably belonged to the same unknown commission for a private house.