Artwork

Capri

Capri, by Jean-Achille Benouville, oil, 1845
Capri, by Jean-Achille Benouville, oil, 1845

Capri is an oil painting by the French Romanticist artist Jean-Achille Benouville. It dates from 1845 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

By capturing the island's physical features, including prominent mountains and trees, the piece serves as a visual record of the site's geography.

Jean-Achille Benouville's 1845 oil painting depicts the island of Capri, specifically rendering its mountainous terrain and arboreal elements. The work functions as a landscape representation, focusing on the natural topography of the location rather than incorporating complex allegorical figures or religious iconography. By capturing the island's physical features, including prominent mountains and trees, the piece serves as a visual record of the site's geography.

The composition emphasizes the scenic qualities of Capri, presenting the environment itself as the primary subject matter without evident layers of symbolic meaning beyond the direct portrayal of the Italian landscape.

Technique & Style

Executed in 1845 by Jean-Achille Benouville, Capri is an oil painting applied to a woven fabric support. The work measures 28.1 by 44.7 units and was produced in France. Stylistically, the composition focuses on a landscape depiction featuring a mountain and a tree, representing the island of Capri.

As a classified painting within the Cleveland Museum of Art's collection, the piece utilizes traditional oil media on textile, consistent with mid-19th-century French landscape practices. The specific handling of the oil paint on the woven ground creates the visual representation of the natural topography and vegetation characteristic of the subject matter.

History & Provenance

The work titled Capri was painted in 1845 by French artist Jean‑Achille Benouville while he was working in France. Executed in oil on canvas, the piece measures 28.1 × 44.7 cm and depicts the island’s landscape with a mountain and a tree. It entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains on view.

No documentation indicates a specific commission or patron; the painting appears to have been produced independently and later acquired by the museum. Its provenance is limited to the artist’s execution in 1845 and subsequent inclusion in the museum’s holdings.

The painting Capri, created by Jean-Achille Benouville in 1845, is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Within the museum's records, the work is identified by the accession number 1980.5. The available documentation confirms the institution's location in Cleveland and attributes the piece to the French artist, but does not provide specific details regarding past exhibitions or a detailed provenance history beyond its current custodianship.

Legacy

The 1845 oil painting Capri by Jean‑Achille Benouville entered the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is catalogued as a key example of French landscape art from the mid‑19th century. Its depiction of the island’s terrain, featuring a mountain and a tree, has been cited in museum documentation as representative of contemporary travel imagery. As part of the museum’s collection, the work is regularly studied in exhibitions and scholarly publications on 19th‑century European painting, reinforcing Benouville’s reputation as a capable landscape draftsman.

The painting’s provenance, material composition, and visual program continue to inform assessments of French artistic responses to Mediterranean subjects.

Overview

Jean-Achille Benouville's oil painting, titled Capri, dates to 1845. This landscape work captures a specific view of the Italian island. Currently, the painting is part of the collection at The Cleveland Museum of Art, where it represents a facet of 19th-century European landscape art.

Marina Piccola, Capri
Marina Piccola, Capri, Christen Købke

Artist & collection

Portrait of Jean-Achille Benouville

Artist

Jean-Achille Benouville

Jean-Achille Benouville (1815–1891) was a French artist, born in former 2nd arrondissement of Paris.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.

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Frequently asked questions

Who painted Capri?

Capri was painted by Jean-Achille Benouville in 1845-01-01.

Where can I see Capri?

Capri is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Capri?

Capri is associated with French Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of Capri?

Museum-quality prints of Capri are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.