Artwork
View of the Tiber near Perugia
View of the Tiber near Perugia is an oil painting by the Hudson River School artist George Inness. It dates from 1873 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower right: G. Inness 1874; lower center, partially painted over: [Geo I]nness Rome 187[2?]
About this work
Technique & Style
View of the Tiber near Perugia is executed in oil paint on a canvas support, measuring 98 cm in height and 161.5 cm in width. Created in 1873, the work is classified as a cityscape painting by George Inness. The handling of the medium reflects the artist's approach to the genre during this period, utilizing the traditional oil-on-canvas technique to render the landscape.
History & Provenance
It was acquired by the museum on 1 June 1973 from Hirschl & Adler Galleries, New York, which had purchased it earlier the same year on 1 June 1973.
George Inness created the oil painting View of the Tiber near Perugia in 1873. The work's provenance begins with financier Darius Ogden Mills, who likely acquired it from the artist in Italy or Paris around 1874 or 1875 following Mills' resignation from the Bank of California. Upon Mills' death in 1910, ownership passed to his children, Ogden Mills and Elizabeth Mills, remaining in their possession until 1943.
The painting subsequently entered the estate of Ogden's daughter, Gladys Mills Phipps, and later her son, Ogden Phipps. It was consigned to M. Knoedler & Co. in November 1955 and sold to Huntington Hartford in May 1956. After passing through Hirschl & Adler Galleries, the National Gallery of Art purchased the work on June 1, 1973.
The painting is held by the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., where it is catalogued as accession no. 1973.79.1.
It was acquired by the museum on 1 June 1973 from Hirschl & Adler Galleries, New York, which had purchased it earlier the same year on 1 June 1973.
Context
The painting View of the Tiber near Perugia, executed in oil on canvas in 1873, depicts a Roman river landscape that situates George Inness within the American Hudson River School tradition while reflecting his mature atmospheric approach. Its compositional focus on light and mood aligns with Inness’s broader exploration of spiritualized nature, a hallmark of his late career. The work entered the National Gallery of Art collection in 1973 after a documented chain of ownership beginning with financier Darius Ogden Mills, who acquired it during his European tour following his resignation from the Bank of California in 1873.
Provenance records indicate its passage through the Mills family, subsequent dealers, and final acquisition by the museum in June 1973.
Overview
George Inness’s 1873 oil on canvas, View of the Tiber near Perugia, depicts a tranquil river scene set within a gently rolling landscape. The composition balances a wide sky with a meandering waterway, framed by modest hills and a few scattered trees, creating a calm, expansive atmosphere.
Subject & Meaning
The work presents a quiet stretch of the Tiber River as it passes near Perugia, emphasizing the natural harmony between water, land, and sky. The subdued palette and smooth contours suggest a contemplative mood, inviting viewers to experience the peaceful rhythm of the countryside.
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Artist & collection
Artist
George Inness (May 1, 1825 – August 3, 1894) was an American landscape painter. Now recognized as one of the most influential American artists of the nineteenth century, Inness was influenced by the Hudson River School…
