Who painted View of the Mall in Saint James's Park?

View of the Mall in Saint James's Park was painted by after Marco Ricci in after 1709-1710.

Where can I see View of the Mall in Saint James's Park?

View of the Mall in Saint James's Park is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is View of the Mall in Saint James's Park?

View of the Mall in Saint James's Park is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

View of the Mall in Saint James's Park

after Marco Ricci , 1710

View of the Mall in Saint James's Park is an oil painting by the Baroque artist after Marco Ricci. It dates from 1710 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Technique & Style

The handling of the oil on canvas creates a substantial visual field consistent with the genre of landscape painting from the early eighteenth century.

View of the Mall in Saint James's Park is an oil painting executed on a canvas support, measuring 114.1 cm in height and 195.2 cm in width. Created in 1709, the work is classified as a landscape, depicting the park setting with the characteristic medium of oil paint. The handling of the oil on canvas creates a substantial visual field consistent with the genre of landscape painting from the early eighteenth century.

History & Provenance

Dated to 1709, this oil on canvas was historically attributed to Marcellus Laroon during its time in the collection of Sir Francis Astley-Corbett, 4th Baronet, of Brigg, Lincolnshire. Following Astley-Corbett's death, the work appeared at a Christie's auction in London on July 8, 1927, where it was purchased by the dealer M. Knoedler & Co. On April 1, 1936, the firm sold the painting to Ailsa Mellon Bruce for her estate in Syosset, New York, maintaining the attribution to Laroon at the time of transfer.

Upon Bruce's death in 1969, the artwork was bequeathed to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., entering the collection in 1970.

The painting is in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., with accession number 1970.17.1. It entered the museum as part of the Ailsa Mellon Bruce bequest in 1970, having been purchased from M. Knoedler & Co. in 1936.

It was exhibited at the National Gallery of Art by 1 August 1956, when its location was recorded at Mrs. Bruce’s estate in Syosset, Long Island.

Overview

View of the Mall in Saint James's Park is an oil on canvas painting capturing a vibrant public space. The artwork presents a dynamic gathering of individuals enjoying leisure activities within a prominent urban park. It offers a detailed glimpse into daily life and social interaction during the period it was created, emphasizing the lively atmosphere of the setting.

Subject & Meaning

The painting portrays a lively social scene within what appears to be a royal park. Figures dressed in 18th-century attire populate a dirt path and adjacent grassy areas, engaged in various activities such as walking, conversing, and resting. Horses and carriages traverse the thoroughfare, while trees line the path and distant buildings define the horizon, collectively illustrating a popular recreational destination.