Artwork
The Waterfalls at Tivoli
The Waterfalls at Tivoli is an oil painting by Joseph Vernet. It dates from 1737 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
Vernet handles the medium with fine, layered brushwork to articulate the translucent veils of falling water and the luminous mist they generate.
Painted in oil on a prepared canvas support, the work measures 123.2 cm in height and 172.6 cm in width. Vernet handles the medium with fine, layered brushwork to articulate the translucent veils of falling water and the luminous mist they generate. The composition balances the dynamic verticality of cascades against the sturdy horizontals of rock ledges and foliage, while a silvery tonality modulates across the scene to evoke the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere.
Stylistically, the handling favors delicate transitions rather than sharp delineation, aligning with the French rococo tradition’s emphasis on refined naturalism.
History & Provenance
The Waterfalls at Tivoli was created by Joseph Vernet in 1737, executed in oil paint as a landscape work. According to documented records, the painting was made in France and depicts the waterfalls at Tivoli with surrounding mountains and trees. The provenance of the work traces through several notable owners, beginning with Lucien Bonaparte, and later passing to Edmund Higginson.
The painting is now part of the Cleveland Museum of Art collection, where it remains held. The work's inception date of 1737 establishes its creation within Vernet's early career, and its recorded dimensions of 123.2 by 172.6 centimeters reflect its substantial scale as a landscape composition.
The Waterfalls at Tivoli, an 1737 oil painting by Joseph Vernet, is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The museum assigns it the accession number 1984.175. The work, which depicts the Tivoli landscape featuring mountains and trees, was previously owned by Lucien Bonaparte and Edmund Higginson before entering the Cleveland institution.
While the painting's creation is dated to 1737, its specific exhibition history or display schedule within the museum is not detailed in the provided records. The artwork measures 123.2 cm in height and 172.6 cm in width.
Overview
This oil painting, The Waterfalls at Tivoli, was created by the French artist Claude-Joseph Vernet in 1737. It captures a dramatic natural landscape near Tivoli, Italy, characterized by rugged terrain and powerful cascades. Vernet, a prominent 18th-century painter, specialized in marine and landscape scenes. The work is presently part of the collection at The Cleveland Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents a wild, mountainous river scene dominated by a large waterfall crashing down rocky cliffs. Scattered figures populate the landscape, some seated on boulders, others standing by the water's edge, and a few engaged in fishing. This depiction of human presence amidst the raw power of nature reflects a common theme in 18th-century landscape art, emphasizing both the grandeur of the natural world and humanity's place within it.
Context
Claude-Joseph Vernet was a significant figure in 18th-century French landscape painting, known for his detailed and evocative depictions of natural environments. His artistic influence extended to his own family; both his son and daughter pursued careers as painters, continuing the artistic tradition he established. This familial continuity underscores the enduring impact of his style and subject matter within the period's art circles.
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Artist
Claude-Joseph Vernet (French pronunciation: ; 14 August 1714 – 3 December 1789) was a French painter. His son Carle Vernet and daughter Marguerite Émilie Chalgrin were also painters.
