Artwork
Bay of Uri, Brunnen (from Switzerland 1870 Sketchbook)
Bay of Uri, Brunnen (from Switzerland 1870 Sketchbook) is an unspecified painting by the Impressionist artist John Singer Sargent. It dates from 1870 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
This 1870 landscape painting by John Singer Sargent depicts a mountain scene situated at the Bay of Uri in Brunnen, Switzerland.
This 1870 landscape painting by John Singer Sargent depicts a mountain scene situated at the Bay of Uri in Brunnen, Switzerland. Created as part of the artist's Switzerland 1870 Sketchbook, the work functions as a direct topographical record of the Alpine environment rather than an allegorical composition. The imagery focuses strictly on the natural geography of the region, capturing the physical characteristics of the mountains and the bay without incorporating additional symbolic elements or narrative figures.
Technique & Style
Bay of Uri, Brunnen is recorded as a painting by John Singer Sargent, created in 1870. The work measures 20.3 cm in height by 28.3 cm in width and is catalogued as a landscape depicting a mountain scene. As a painting, it employs a two‑dimensional pictorial support typical of the medium, with the artist’s handling reflected in the compositional treatment of atmospheric space and linear perspective.
The piece belongs to the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection and was accessioned on 1870‑06‑04. Its formal qualities include a balanced arrangement of foreground water, middle‑ground cliffs, and background sky, characteristic of Sargent’s lyrical landscape approach.
History & Provenance
The sketchbook page Bay of Uri, Brunnen was made by John Singer Sargent in 1870 during his travels in Switzerland. It belongs to a sketchbook assembled by the artist that year, reflecting his practice of recording landscapes en plein air.
The sheet entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection as part of its holdings of Sargent’s works on paper. Its dimensions are 20.3 cm in height by 28.3 cm in width.
Bay of Uri, Brunnen (from Switzerland 1870 Sketchbook) by John Singer Sargent is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work, a landscape painting dated June 4, 1870, measures 20.3 cm in height by 28.3 cm in width. No specific inventory or accession number, nor any exhibition history, is recorded in the available sources.
Overview
John Singer Sargent's Bay of Uri, Brunnen (from Switzerland 1870 Sketchbook) is a watercolor landscape created in 1870. This work captures a mountainous vista, forming part of the American expatriate artist's extensive landscape studies. While Sargent is primarily recognized for his society portraiture, this piece demonstrates his engagement with natural scenery.
It is currently held in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, offering insight into his early artistic explorations.
Context
Created during Sargent's travels, this watercolor belongs to a period when the artist extensively documented European landscapes. Though he later became renowned for his portraits of high society, his early career and travels yielded numerous landscape studies, sketches, and watercolors. This particular work originates from his 1870 Switzerland sketchbook, illustrating his broader artistic practice beyond formal portrait commissions and his continuous engagement with diverse subjects.
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Artist & collection
Artist
John Singer Sargent (; January 12, 1856 – April 15, 1925) was an American expatriate artist, considered the "leading portrait painter of his generation" for his evocations of Belle Époque and Edwardian-era luxury.
