Artwork
Figures near a Fountain

Figures near a Fountain is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Adolphe Joseph Thomas Monticelli. It is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Technique & Style
Thick impasto and expressive brushwork define the figures positioned beside the fountain, contributing to a vibrant yet somewhat shadowy composition.
Oil paint applied to a wooden panel creates the surface for this work. The painting measures 45.5 cm in height and 26 cm in width, reflecting Monticelli's characteristic handling of the medium. Thick impasto and expressive brushwork define the figures positioned beside the fountain, contributing to a vibrant yet somewhat shadowy composition. The depiction of a tree within the scene emphasizes natural elements that frame the central subjects.
History & Provenance
Figures near a Fountain, painted by Adolphe Joseph Thomas Monticelli in 1878, is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The work is catalogued as part of that institution's holdings, with its location recorded as the Rijksmuseum.
No specific inventory or accession number is documented in the available sources, and no exhibition history is recorded for the painting.
Overview
Figures near a Fountain is a painting created by Adolphe Joseph Thomas Monticelli in 1890. It is an oil-on-canvas work held in the Rijksmuseum's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts two indistinct figures standing near a tree and a partially obscured fountain. The dominant visual elements are the dense foliage and thick tree trunks, rendered in dark greens and browns.
Context
Although Monticelli predates the Impressionist movement, his work shares some similarities with it, such as luminous color and loose brushwork.
Artist & collection
Artist
Adolphe Joseph Thomas Monticelli
Adolphe Joseph Thomas Monticelli (October 14, 1824 – June 29, 1886) was a French painter of the generation preceding the Impressionists.


















