Pastoral Meadow with Figures, Montrec (Eileen Jones, 1930–2003), c.1970s, oil on canvas, 24x36 in, signed l/l.
A luminous Montrec (Eileen Jones) oil-on-canvas landscape depicting figures in a sunlit meadow under a high summer sky—soft Impressionist brushwork, airy greens, and nostalgic pastoral charm, signed Montrec.
Artwork Description
This 24 x 36 inch oil painting presents an expansive, gently rolling meadow rendered in layered, broken brushstrokes that create the shimmer of tall grass moving through light and breeze. The palette is tuned to pale greens, silvery whites, and warm ochres, with a bright, open blue sky and billowing clouds that push depth into the distance. A grouping of small figures—children moving through the field and two seated figures in the foreground—introduces a narrative of leisure and summertime ritual, while remaining secondary to the atmosphere and the broad sweep of land and sky.
Stylistically, the work sits in an American decorative Impressionist lineage: softened edges, tonal harmony, and a preference for mood over topographic specificity. Paint handling alternates between thin scumbles for haze and thicker, textured strokes for grasses and foliage, producing a gentle optical vibration rather than sharp detail. The overall effect is pastoral and nostalgic—an idealized countryside moment—balanced by confident compositional structure: the hillside diagonals, a dark tree mass anchoring the right side, and an open sky that keeps the scene buoyant.
Signature: signed “Montrec” at the lower left (as shown in the close-up).
Artist Biography
Montrec is the professional name used by American painter Eileen Jones (born Mildred Eileen Jones), associated with Baltimore, Long Island/New York, and later Hawai‘i. Published and market documentation consistently identify her as an American Impressionist-leaning painter working in landscapes, figures, and genre scenes, with a signature history that includes “EJones” and, notably, “Montrec” during the late 1960s and 1970s.
Jones’ early reputation was built on accessible, technically assured paintings aimed at collectors who favored light-filled scenery and gentle narrative—children at play, park and garden scenes, and pastoral countryside views—often composed to feel timeless rather than site-specific. Over time, her subject matter and geography shifted: sources describe her early adult years on Long Island where she operated a commercial gallery, followed by a move to Hawai‘i, including a period running a gallery in Princeville on Kaua‘i, and later years on Maui, where she died (commonly reported as October 21, 2003).
In the secondary market, works signed “Montrec” are frequently cataloged as her painterly “French Impressionist” mode—soft atmospheric landscapes and figures—distinct from later island scenery emphasized during her Hawai‘i years. This “Montrec” signature appears routinely in listings and catalog descriptions for her mid-century to late-20th-century output, reinforcing the pseudonym’s consistency in circulation and attribution.
American, 1930–2003; oil landscapes and figure compositions; signature “Montrec”; collected as decorative American Impressionism with strong appeal for traditional interiors.
Certificate of Authentication
Artist: Montrec (Eileen Jones / Mildred Eileen Jones, American, 1930–2003)
Title: Pastoral Meadow with Figures (attributed)
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 24 x 36 inches
Signature: Signed “Montrec” lower left (present)
Approximate date: Circa 1970s
Statement of opinion: Based on the visible signature, period-consistent materials and technique, and the established market identification of “Montrec” as the professional name used by Eileen Jones, this work is attributed to Eileen Jones (1930–2003).
Condition
Overall appearance: Very good vintage condition consistent with age.
Observed from photos: light surface handling wear and edge wear consistent with prior framing/storage; no obvious active paint loss visible in the provided images.
Recommendation: a professional condition review in-hand (and, if desired, a light surface clean by a qualified conservator) prior to framing.
Provenance chain
Current owner: Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC
Acquired from: Mitch Morse Gallery (publisher and source for works in this collection)
Prior sourcing: Acquired by Mitch Morse Gallery through purchases in New York City (United States) and Europe
Artist: Montrec (Eileen Jones, American, 1930–2003)
Pastoral Meadow with Figures, Montrec (Eileen Jones, 1930–2003), c.1970s, oil on canvas, 24x36 in, signed l/l.
A luminous Montrec (Eileen Jones) oil-on-canvas landscape depicting figures in a sunlit meadow under a high summer sky—soft Impressionist brushwork, airy greens, and nostalgic pastoral charm, signed Montrec.
Artwork Description
This 24 x 36 inch oil painting presents an expansive, gently rolling meadow rendered in layered, broken brushstrokes that create the shimmer of tall grass moving through light and breeze. The palette is tuned to pale greens, silvery whites, and warm ochres, with a bright, open blue sky and billowing clouds that push depth into the distance. A grouping of small figures—children moving through the field and two seated figures in the foreground—introduces a narrative of leisure and summertime ritual, while remaining secondary to the atmosphere and the broad sweep of land and sky.
Stylistically, the work sits in an American decorative Impressionist lineage: softened edges, tonal harmony, and a preference for mood over topographic specificity. Paint handling alternates between thin scumbles for haze and thicker, textured strokes for grasses and foliage, producing a gentle optical vibration rather than sharp detail. The overall effect is pastoral and nostalgic—an idealized countryside moment—balanced by confident compositional structure: the hillside diagonals, a dark tree mass anchoring the right side, and an open sky that keeps the scene buoyant.
Signature: signed “Montrec” at the lower left (as shown in the close-up).
Artist Biography
Montrec is the professional name used by American painter Eileen Jones (born Mildred Eileen Jones), associated with Baltimore, Long Island/New York, and later Hawai‘i. Published and market documentation consistently identify her as an American Impressionist-leaning painter working in landscapes, figures, and genre scenes, with a signature history that includes “EJones” and, notably, “Montrec” during the late 1960s and 1970s.
Jones’ early reputation was built on accessible, technically assured paintings aimed at collectors who favored light-filled scenery and gentle narrative—children at play, park and garden scenes, and pastoral countryside views—often composed to feel timeless rather than site-specific. Over time, her subject matter and geography shifted: sources describe her early adult years on Long Island where she operated a commercial gallery, followed by a move to Hawai‘i, including a period running a gallery in Princeville on Kaua‘i, and later years on Maui, where she died (commonly reported as October 21, 2003).
In the secondary market, works signed “Montrec” are frequently cataloged as her painterly “French Impressionist” mode—soft atmospheric landscapes and figures—distinct from later island scenery emphasized during her Hawai‘i years. This “Montrec” signature appears routinely in listings and catalog descriptions for her mid-century to late-20th-century output, reinforcing the pseudonym’s consistency in circulation and attribution.
American, 1930–2003; oil landscapes and figure compositions; signature “Montrec”; collected as decorative American Impressionism with strong appeal for traditional interiors.
Certificate of Authentication
Artist: Montrec (Eileen Jones / Mildred Eileen Jones, American, 1930–2003)
Title: Pastoral Meadow with Figures (attributed)
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 24 x 36 inches
Signature: Signed “Montrec” lower left (present)
Approximate date: Circa 1970s
Statement of opinion: Based on the visible signature, period-consistent materials and technique, and the established market identification of “Montrec” as the professional name used by Eileen Jones, this work is attributed to Eileen Jones (1930–2003).
Condition
Overall appearance: Very good vintage condition consistent with age.
Observed from photos: light surface handling wear and edge wear consistent with prior framing/storage; no obvious active paint loss visible in the provided images.
Recommendation: a professional condition review in-hand (and, if desired, a light surface clean by a qualified conservator) prior to framing.
Provenance chain
Current owner: Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC
Acquired from: Mitch Morse Gallery (publisher and source for works in this collection)
Prior sourcing: Acquired by Mitch Morse Gallery through purchases in New York City (United States) and Europe
Artist: Montrec (Eileen Jones, American, 1930–2003)
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