Frank Weston Benson’s Summer Day captures the atmospheric effects of the warmth, light, and air of a seaside scene. His elegantly dressed daughters sit at the dock’s edge and look out at the water and boats. The loose brushwork, vivid color, and sunlight, as well as the leisurely subject, exemplify the influence of French Impressionism on American artists. Born to prosperous Boston cotton merchants, Benson enjoyed a privileged life. He studied in Paris and traveled throughout Europe before returning to Boston to establish his successful career.