James Taylor Harwood (American, 1860–1940) Coast of Azure Watercolor on paper 11 × 16 in.
This luminous coastal view captures a tranquil inlet edged by rocky headlands and softened by clear, atmospheric light. Harwood uses transparent washes of blue and violet to suggest the depth and movement of water, while warmer tones model the cliffs and shoreline vegetation. The composition unfolds gently from foreground scrub to distant promontories, creating a sense of calm recession and open space. The delicacy of the watercolor medium allows light to permeate the scene, emphasizing clarity, air, and the reflective surface of the sea rather than dramatic contrast.
James Taylor Harwood was an American painter whose work ranged from portraiture and genre scenes to landscapes executed in oil and watercolor. Born in Utah, he trained at the Académie Julian and the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, bringing academic refinement to subjects drawn from both European travel and the American West. Harwood became a foundational figure in Utah’s art community, valued for his technical skill, versatility, and sensitive approach to landscape and atmosphere.
