Rip Van Winkle

The painting titled 'Rip Van Winkle' was executed in 1833 by the American genre‑scene painter Albertis del Orient Browere. Executed in oil on canvas, the work measures 53.7 × 63.5 cm and portrays a child, a man and a woman. It was recorded in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection, where it has been displayed as part of the American Wing since its acquisition.

No documentation indicates a specific commissioning patron; the painting appears to have been produced for the artist’s own market activity and subsequently entered the museum’s holdings.

The painting Rip Van Winkle by Albertis del Orient Browere, completed in 1833, entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and is displayed in the American Wing, a placement that underscores its enduring significance in American art history. Its genre‑scene composition, depicting a child, a man, and a woman, contributed to the narrative tradition of 19th‑century American genre painting. The work’s inclusion in a premier museum reflects sustained scholarly and public interest, cementing its reputation as a representative example of early American genre scenes.

Albertis del Orient Browere's 1833 oil on canvas, Rip Van Winkle, captures a moment from the well-known American folk tale. The painting portrays a man in a rumpled coat, deep in slumber beneath a tree, as a group of children in period attire cautiously move past him. This genre scene offers a glimpse into a narrative moment, characteristic of early 19th-century American art and its focus on storytelling.