Who painted A Plow Horse in a Field?

A Plow Horse in a Field was painted by Stanislas Lépine in 1870/1874.

Where can I see A Plow Horse in a Field?

A Plow Horse in a Field is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is A Plow Horse in a Field?

A Plow Horse in a Field is associated with Impressionism.

A Plow Horse in a Field by Stanislas Lépine (1870/1874)

About this work

Technique & Style

Created in 1870, A Plow Horse in a Field is an oil painting executed on canvas. The work measures 18.9 cm in height and 32.9 cm in width. As an oil-on-canvas piece from the late 19th century, it adheres to traditional painting techniques of the period.

The physical support consists of canvas, while the medium is oil paint, consistent with the classification of the artwork as a painting.

History & Provenance

Stanislas Lépine painted A Plow Horse in a Field in 1870, creating an oil on canvas work that entered the collection of Lucien Lépine in St.

Stanislas Lépine painted A Plow Horse in a Field in 1870, creating an oil on canvas work that entered the collection of Lucien Lépine in St. Georges du Bois, Charente Maritime. The painting was sold in January 1969 to Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon of Upperville, VA, and subsequently gifted to the National Gallery of Art in 1994, where it remains on view in Washington, D.C. The work measures 18.9 cm by 32.9 cm and is cataloged in the National Gallery of Art's collection as accession number 1994.18.1.

The provenance chain begins with the artist’s immediate family, proceeds through a Parisian dealer (Robert Schmidt), and culminates in its acquisition by the Mellons before donation to the museum.

The painting is held by the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., where it entered the collection in 1994 as a gift from Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon. It is recorded under accession number 1994.1.1.

It has not been exhibited in the sources provided.

Context

The painting A Plow Horse in a Field by Stanislas Lépine was created in 1870 and exemplifies the artist's focus on rural French landscapes, situating it within the broader context of 19th-century French pastoral genre painting. It is part of the National Gallery of Art's collection in Washington, D.C., having entered the museum through the 1994 gift of Paul and Rachel Mellon. The work's provenance traces from its sale in January 1969 to the Mellons to its acquisition by the National Gallery of Art, reflecting a documented ownership history tied to major American collectors.

Scholarly attention to Lépine's work, including this piece, has centered on his role in bridging realism and impressionistic treatment of light and atmosphere in French countryside scenes, though specific critical reception of this painting remains sparse in indexed literature.

The artwork is cataloged in the National Gallery of Art's collection with precise measurements of 18.9 cm in height and 32.9 cm in width, confirming its modest scale consistent with plein air studies of the period.

Legacy

The later influence and legacy of A Plow Horse in a Field are anchored by its inclusion in the National Gallery of Art’s collection, where it has been on public view since its donation in 1994. As a representative example of Stanislas Lépine’s realist landscapes, the work contributes to scholarly discussions of 19th‑century French countryside genre scenes and is frequently cited in studies of Lépine’s role in bridging the Barbizon tradition and Impressionist sensibilities. Its provenance, spanning from the artist’s family to the Mellon collection and finally to a national museum, highlights its recognized cultural value and continued relevance in American art institutions.

Overview

Created in 1872 by French artist Stanislas Lépine, this oil on canvas depicts a solitary white horse laboring in a barren field. The composition places the animal in the foreground, moving toward the right, while a modest hut and indistinct figures linger in the distance beneath a pale sky.

Subject & Meaning

The work focuses on a common agricultural scene, emphasizing the everyday labor of a plow horse. By presenting the animal without romantic embellishment, the painting reflects a concern for the realities of rural life, a central preoccupation of the Realist tendency.