Study for Reflections

Noble, John

1914–17

Artwork Information

  • Title:

    Study for Reflections

  • Artist:

    Noble, John

  • Artist Bio:

    American, 1874–1934

  • Date:

    1914–17

  • Medium:

    Oil on canvas

  • Dimensions:

    19 1/8 x 28 1/8 inches

  • Credit Line:

    Wichita Art Museum, Museum purchase with funds donated by Mr. and Mrs. Clifford W. Stone

  • Object Number:

    1982.50

  • Display:

    Not Currently on Display

About the Artwork

John Noble signed his paintings and is formally known as John Noble. John moved from Wichita, KS to Paris in 1903 where he adopted the nickname “Wichita Bill”. Many of his friends called him Bill because he identified with the original Buffalo Bill, William Matthewson.

Noble met Amelia Peische on the French Riviera and married her in 1910. They began to winter in Paris and summer in Brittany. In 1919 they settled in Provincetown, Massachusetts, then in 1922 moved to New York. Noble provided a connection between Provincetown’s artistic community and Wichita, bringing exhibitions of Provincetown artists to the Wichita Art Association. In 1949 Irving Stone based the book The Passionate Journey on John Noble’s life.

This painting, Study for Reflections” uses heavy impasto technique, diagonally applied, to create the effects of water rolling across the sand, at the edge of the seashore, where a young bather lies contemplating the movement of water before her.