Artwork
Moonlight on the Yare
Moonlight on the Yare is an oil painting by the Romanticist artist John Crome. It dates from 1816 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
You see moonlight on a dark river. A single tree stands on the bank, its leaves lit by the silver glow. The water reflects the sky, calm and quiet.
John Crome painted this in 1816. He loved quiet English landscapes like this one. It’s not dramatic, but it feels peaceful and real.
Look up the National Gallery of Art, Washington.
Technique & Style
Created in 1816, Moonlight on the Yare is executed in oil paint on a canvas support. The work measures 98.4 cm in height and 125.7 cm in width. Classified as a landscape painting, the composition features trees as its primary depicted subject.
The handling of the medium conveys the atmospheric effects associated with the moonlit scene, adhering to the stylistic conventions of the genre.
History & Provenance
Its exhibition history includes a showing at the Franco-British Exhibition at the Fine Arts Palace, White City, London, in 1908 (no.
John Crome created the oil-on-canvas landscape Moonlight on the Yare in 1816. The work's earliest recorded ownership belongs to Kirkman Hodgson of Ashgrove, Sevenoaks, Kent, from 1814 until his death in 1879. It subsequently passed by descent to his son, Robert Kirkman Hodgson of Gavelacre, Hampshire.
By 1908 the painting was in the possession of H. Darell Brown of London and was exhibited at the Franco-British Exhibition that year. It was later sold at Christie's in London on 23 May 1924 to the Hon. Arthur Howard (later Sir Arthur Howard). The piece was acquired by Thos.
Agnew & Sons by 1973 and purchased in July 1974 by Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon of Upperville, Virginia, who gifted it to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., in 1983.
Its exhibition history includes a showing at the Franco-British Exhibition at the Fine Arts Palace, White City, London, in 1908 (no. 73).
Overview
Moonlight on the Yare, painted around 1816 by John Crome, is an oil on canvas landscape. This work captures a serene nocturnal scene, focusing on the tranquil interplay of light and shadow over a river. It exemplifies Crome's characteristic approach to depicting the understated beauty of the English countryside, presenting a quiet moment rather than a grand spectacle.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a solitary tree standing prominently on the bank of the River Yare under a moonlit sky. The soft, silver glow illuminates the tree's foliage, creating a striking contrast with the surrounding darkness. The calm water mirrors the subtle light from above, contributing to the overall sense of stillness and contemplation. Crome's composition emphasizes the peaceful, unadorned reality of the natural world.
Context
John Crome, a key figure of the Norwich School, frequently turned to the local English countryside for his subjects. Moonlight on the Yare aligns with his preference for depicting quiet, everyday scenes rather than dramatic or idealized views. His work often conveyed a sense of peace and realism, inviting viewers to appreciate the inherent beauty of familiar surroundings, a characteristic that defined much of his artistic output.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
John Crome, once known as Old Crome to distinguish him from his artist son John Berney Crome, was an English landscape painter of the Romantic era, one of the principal artists and founding members of the Norwich School of painters.
