Artwork
Four Figures

Four Figures is an oil painting by the Realist artist Adolphe Joseph Thomas Monticelli. It dates from 1865 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting's iconography centers on a solitary figure rendered in oil on panel, emphasizing themes of introspection and quiet presence.
Four Figures depicts a woman, reflecting Monticelli's recurring interest in solitary female subjects. The painting's iconography centers on a solitary figure rendered in oil on panel, emphasizing themes of introspection and quiet presence. Its meaning is tied to the artist's exploration of individual identity within a contemplative composition, as documented in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection records.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1865, Four Figures is an oil painting by Adolphe Joseph Thomas Monticelli. The work is characterized by its application of oil paint onto a panel support, distinguishing it from canvas-based compositions. The painting features a small-scale format, measuring 24.8 cm in height and 19.7 cm in width.
While specific details regarding the artist's brushwork or the current physical condition of the panel are not provided in the available records, the piece is formally classified as a painting depicting female subjects. The combination of oil medium and rigid panel support reflects the material choices typical of the artist's practice during this period.
History & Provenance
Four Figures is an oil painting on panel created by Adolphe Joseph Thomas Monticelli in 1865. The work depicts a woman and measures 24.8 cm in height by 19.7 cm in width. It currently resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is held as part of their painting holdings.
No specific details regarding its original commission, early ownership history, or the circumstances of its creation are provided in the available records beyond its date of inception and current institutional location.
Four Figures, an oil painting by Adolphe Joseph Thomas Monticelli dated 1865, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. According to the available record, the work is catalogued within that museum's holdings and is located there. The painting is executed in oil paint on panel, measuring 24.8 cm in height by 19.7 cm in width.
No accession number or specific exhibition history is documented in the available sources for this work.
Overview
Created in 1865, Four Figures is an oil painting by French artist Adolphe Joseph Thomas Monticelli. Executed before the rise of Impressionism, the work belongs to Monticelli’s Realist phase and is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection.
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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.














