Artwork
Lake of Orta
Lake of Orta is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist James Carroll Beckwith. It dates from 1910 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting Lake of Orta, executed by J. Carroll Beckwith in 1910 as an oil on wood and held in The American Wing, presents a compact landscape that brings together a modest house, a still lake, a rising mountain, and a solitary tree. These visual elements form a cohesive composition that evokes the tranquil, idyllic character of an Italian lakeside setting, arranging domestic architecture alongside natural landforms and vegetation.
Technique & Style
James Carroll Beckwith's Lake of Orta (1910) is executed in oil paint on a wood panel support, measuring 34.9 by 26.7 centimeters. The work depicts a landscape with a lake, mountains, trees, and a house. The available sources do not provide further detail on the artist's specific handling, palette, or the painting's present condition beyond its medium, support, and dimensions.
History & Provenance
7 centimeters and forms part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, housed within The American Wing.
The painting Lake of Orta was created by the American artist J. Carroll Beckwith in 1910. Executed in oil on a wood panel, the work measures 34.9 by 26.7 centimeters and forms part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, housed within The American Wing. It depicts a landscape scene featuring a lake, mountains, trees, and a house.
The specific commission details and the chain of ownership prior to its acquisition by the museum are not detailed in the available records, though the work's creation is firmly dated to 1910.
Overview
James Carroll Beckwith, an American Naturalist painter, completed "Lake of Orta" in 1910 using oil on wood. This landscape exemplifies his respected position in American art during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The work presents a serene vista featuring a tranquil lake, a solitary house, and distant mountains, reflecting a quiet observation of nature.
Context
While James Carroll Beckwith was living and working in Italy when he painted "Lake of Orta," the landscape's character resonates more with American scenery than Italian. This blend of international experience with a distinctly American sensibility underscores his role as a significant figure in American art, bridging European influences with a focus on domestic themes during his active period.
Artist & collection
Artist
James Carroll Beckwith (September 23, 1852 – October 24, 1917) was an American landscape, portrait and genre painter whose Naturalist style led to his recognition in the late nineteenth and very early twentieth century as a respected…
