Artwork
Woman in a Riding Habit (L'Amazone)
Woman in a Riding Habit (L'Amazone) is an oil painting by the Realist artist Gustave Courbet. It dates from 1856 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting titled Woman in a Riding Habit (L'Amazone) shows a single female sitter dressed in a riding habit, presenting her as the subject of a portrait.
The painting titled Woman in a Riding Habit (L'Amazone) shows a single female sitter dressed in a riding habit, presenting her as the subject of a portrait. Executed by Gustave Courbet in 1856 with oil on canvas, the work measures 115.6 × 89.2 cm and belongs to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it has been part of the collection since its acquisition by Louisine Havemeyer. The composition emphasizes the sitter’s dignified pose and the details of her attire, framing her as a modern embodiment of the Amazonian figure referenced in the title.
Technique & Style
Gustave Courbet's Woman in a Riding Habit (L'Amazone), created in 1856, is executed in oil paint on a canvas support. The work functions as a portrait, depicting a female figure in riding attire. Physically, the painting measures 115.6 cm in height and 89.2 cm in width.
As a mid-19th-century oil painting, the piece utilizes the traditional material combination of pigment and canvas typical of Courbet's portraiture from this period. The work is currently held within the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, having previously been owned by Louisine Havemeyer.
History & Provenance
Woman in a Riding Habit (L'Amazone) was painted by Gustave Courbet in 1856, executed in oil on canvas. The work subsequently entered the collection of Louisine Havemeyer, the noted American collector whose holdings were later bequeathed to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It is now held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, consistent with the Havemeyer bequest.
The sources do not record the original commission, the identity of the sitter, or any intermediate owners between the painting's creation and its acquisition by Havemeyer.
Gustave Courbet's 1856 painting, Woman in a Riding Habit (L'Amazone), is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The work, executed in oil on canvas, measures 115.6 by 89.2 centimeters. Historical records indicate the piece was previously owned by Louisine Havemeyer before entering the museum's holdings.
As a portrait depicting a woman, the artwork remains a significant part of the institution's permanent display of 19th-century French painting. The Metropolitan Museum of Art serves as the current custodian of this specific oil painting, which was created at the beginning of 1856.
Overview
Gustave Courbet, a prominent figure in 19th-century French Realism, completed Woman in a Riding Habit (L'Amazone) in 1856. This oil painting portrays a woman dressed in equestrian attire, reflecting Courbet's dedication to depicting contemporary life and observable reality. The work exemplifies his departure from the idealized subjects favored by academic art and Romanticism, instead presenting a direct and unembellished portrait. It is now part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection.
Context
As a leading proponent of Realism, Gustave Courbet actively challenged the prevailing artistic norms of his era. He consciously moved away from the historical, mythological, and exotic themes often celebrated by academic institutions and Romantic painters. Instead, Courbet advocated for art that engaged with the tangible world, portraying ordinary people and scenes from everyday existence with an unvarnished honesty, a principle clearly demonstrated in this portrait.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jean Désiré Gustave Courbet (UK: KOOR-bay; US: koor-BAY; French:; 10 June 1819 – 31 December 1877) was a French painter who led the Realism movement in 19th-century French painting.
