Artwork
Landscape on a River
Landscape on a River is an oil painting by the Barbizon school artist Charles François Daubigny. It dates from 1863 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Charles-François Daubigny's 1863 oil painting, Landscape on a River, depicts a serene natural scene characterized by a flowing river and a nearby village.
Charles-François Daubigny's 1863 oil painting, Landscape on a River, depicts a serene natural scene characterized by a flowing river and a nearby village. As a work within the landscape genre, the composition focuses on the harmonious integration of the waterway and the rural settlement, presenting a view of the countryside. The subject matter is strictly representational, centering on the visual elements of the river, the village structures, and the surrounding terrain.
While the work captures the physical attributes of this environment, the available documentation identifies the depiction of these specific natural and architectural elements as the primary content of the piece without attributing further symbolic or allegorical meanings to the scene.
Technique & Style
Landscape on a River is an oil painting executed by Charles-François Daubigny in 1863. The work utilizes oil paint applied to a panel support, measuring 21 centimeters in height and 38.1 centimeters in width. As a genre landscape, the composition depicts a river scene incorporating a village within a broader natural setting.
The physical format of the panel suggests a portable scale typical for plein air studies or finished works intended for intimate viewing, while the medium of oil paint allows for the rendering of atmospheric effects characteristic of the artist's landscape style. The piece is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
History & Provenance
Created in 1863 by the French artist Charles-François Daubigny, Landscape on a River is an oil painting executed on a wooden panel measuring 21 by 38.1 centimeters. It depicts a riverside village scene characteristic of the artist's landscape genre. The painting is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. No specific commission or intermediate ownership details are recorded in the available sources.
Overview
Charles-François Daubigny, a French artist, completed Landscape on a River in 1863 using oil paint. This painting exemplifies his focus on naturalistic outdoor scenes, depicting a tranquil rural setting along a waterway. It is currently housed in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, representing a key example of his work within the Barbizon school tradition.
Context
As a prominent member of the Barbizon school, Daubigny shared their interest in direct observation of the French countryside, moving away from idealized academic landscapes. His practice of painting outdoors and his emphasis on light and atmosphere were influential, establishing him as a significant precursor to the Impressionist movement that emerged shortly after this work was created.
Artist & collection
Artist
Charles-François Daubigny ( DOH-bin-yee, US: DOH-been-YEE, doh-BEEN-yee, French:; 15 February 1817 – 19 February 1878) was a French painter, one of the members of the Barbizon school, and is considered an important precursor of…
