Paris Scene (Arc de Triomphe) beautifully demonstrates John Whorf’s expert handling of the watercolor medium. The fluidity of his style is most notable here in the play between the transparent and opaque applications of paint. Not only does this technique create a dynamic composition but it also helps to capture the movement in the scene. Whorf uses washes of color to build the solid forms and capture the transient effects of reflective light. His masterful array of brushwork and combinations of color invites his viewer to experience the mood of the landscape as if it was first hand.



Whorf’s ability to capture natural colors and blend them with shadow and light earned him renown. In 1924 he had his first one-man show at the Grace Horne Gallery in Boston. More than fifty of his paintings sold during that exhibition, and his reputation as a leading watercolorist was secured. Throughout his life, Whorf exhibited in galleries in New York and Boston. And in 1947 he was elected as a member of the National Academy of Design.