Artwork
View of Lake Nemi
View of Lake Nemi is an oil painting by the Romanticist artist Jules Coignet. It dates from 1843 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower left: Nemi 1843
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition specifically features architectural and natural elements, identifying a house and trees as the primary visual subjects.
Jules Coignet's 1843 oil painting, View of Lake Nemi, functions as a landscape depiction of the Italian locale. The composition specifically features architectural and natural elements, identifying a house and trees as the primary visual subjects. As a work within the landscape genre, the piece focuses on the representation of this specific geographical setting.
The available records confirm the presence of these structures and flora but do not elaborate on deeper allegorical meanings or complex iconographic symbolism beyond the direct portrayal of the scene's physical components.
Technique & Style
View of Lake Nemi is an oil painting executed on paper that is mounted on canvas, a support typical of mid-19th-century plein-air practice. The work measures 27 × 36 cm and belongs to the landscape genre, depicting a house and a tree against a lake setting. Coignet's handling of light and atmospheric perspective reflects the academic realism of his era, while the thin oil layer on paper creates a delicate surface that has remained stable in the National Gallery of Art's collection since its acquisition in 1994.
History & Provenance
The painting View of Lake Nemi by Jules Coignet is dated to 1843. The work entered the art market in Paris before being handled by Galerie Fischer-Kiener, which sold it in November 1991 to Mrs. John Jay Ide in San Francisco. In 1994, it was donated by Mrs. Ide to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where it remains in the collection.
The gallery's involvement in the 1991 transaction is documented in curatorial files via a letter from Jacques Fischer dated 28 October 1999.
Overview
Jules Louis Philippe Coignet's View of Lake Nemi, painted in 1843, presents a serene landscape. This oil on paper work, mounted on canvas, captures a tranquil lakeside vista featuring a house and a prominent tree. It exemplifies Coignet's dedication to depicting natural scenery, a focus that defined his extensive career as a landscape artist.
Context
Created in 1843, View of Lake Nemi reflects the mature career of Jules Louis Philippe Coignet, a French landscape painter trained by Jean-Victor Bertin. Coignet was a prolific artist, known for his travels across Europe to capture diverse scenic views. His work was regularly featured at the prestigious Paris Salon, where he earned significant recognition, including a gold medal in 1824 and the Legion of Honour in 1836.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jules Louis Philippe Coignet was born in Paris in 1798 and died there in 1860. He was a noted landscape painter who had studied under Jean-Victor Bertin. He travelled a good deal in his own country as well as elsewhere…
