Artwork
House of the Smith
House of the Smith is a print by the Impressionist artist Francis Seymour Haden. It dates from 1864 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 1946.324
- Credit line
- In memory of Ralph King, gift of Mrs. Ralph King; Ralph T. Woods, Charles G. King; and Frances King Schafer
About this work
Overview
Created in 1864, House of the Smith is a print by British artist Francis Seymour Haden. The work is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. It presents a modest urban landscape rendered in a sketch‑like manner, emphasizing atmosphere over precise detail.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a tranquil street corner: a modest house occupies the left side, a solitary tree rises nearby, and a small bridge arches over a pond. A figure rests on a bench by the water while another individual walks along the path, suggesting a moment of quiet daily life.
Technique & Style
Haden employed cross‑hatching, layering intersecting lines to model form and convey light and shadow. The marks are loose and rapid, giving the print a spontaneous, almost impressionistic quality that aligns with mid‑nineteenth‑century sketching practices in etching and drawing.
History & Provenance
Since its creation, the print has remained in public hands, eventually entering the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings. Its presence in the museum reflects the institution’s broader commitment to representing 19th‑century British printmaking and Haden’s contribution to the medium.
Artist & collection
