Overmantel

This carved panel captures the idyllic landscape of Perkins Cove, a historic fishing cove and longtime artists’ community in Ogunquit, Maine. Robert Laurent was introduced to the locale by his patron, Hamilton Easter Field, who commissioned the artist to create this panel to be hung above his mother’s mantel. Laurent carved directly into the wood without preconceived ideas or preparatory drawings. He liked the spontaneity of this approach, stating, “It keeps you awake, looking for something to show up—and some thing always does."