Artwork

Rocky Hills near Civitella

Rocky Hills near Civitella, by P. C. Skovgaard, oil, 1869
Rocky Hills near Civitella, by P. C. Skovgaard, oil, 1869

Rocky Hills near Civitella is an oil painting by the Realist artist P. C. Skovgaard. It dates from 1869 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The hills and vegetation function as motifs of the sublime in nature, evoking both the grandeur and intimacy of the landscape without overt allegory.

The painting depicts a hilly landscape near Civitella, emphasizing undulating terrain and natural vegetation. Skovgaard’s rendering captures the interplay of light and shadow across the slopes, conveying a sense of quiet, rural expansiveness. The composition avoids narrative elements, focusing instead on the atmospheric and topographical qualities of the site, which typify the artist’s plein-air approach to Danish and Italian scenery.

The work reflects Skovgaard’s engagement with naturalist landscape painting, where the subject is treated with observational fidelity rather than symbolic overstatement. The hills and vegetation function as motifs of the sublime in nature, evoking both the grandeur and intimacy of the landscape without overt allegory.

Technique & Style

Rocky Hills near Civitella is an oil painting executed on a canvas support by P. C. Skovgaard in 1869. The work depicts a landscape featuring hills, rendered in the artist's characteristic handling of oil paint. Measuring 38 cm in height and 57 cm in width, the piece represents a formal study of the natural terrain.

The medium and support are consistent with the artist's practice during this period, focusing on the representation of the Italian landscape.

History & Provenance

Rocky Hills near Civitella is an oil painting on canvas created in 1869 by P. C. Skovgaard. The work measures 380 cm by 570 cm and depicts a landscape featuring a hill near Civitella. It belongs to the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst, where it has been part of the museum's holdings since its creation.

The painting was first exhibited as part of Skovgaard's body of landscape works from the late 1860s, reflecting his focus on Danish rural scenery during that period.

The provenance of Rocky Hills near Civitella is straightforward, with no documented changes in ownership prior to its acquisition by Statens Museum for Kunst. The museum's records indicate the work was produced as part of the artist's commission to document regional landscapes, aligning with broader national efforts to preserve cultural heritage through art in the 1860s. Its creation history is tied to Skovgaard's personal engagement with the terrain surrounding Civitella, a location he visited during multiple sketching trips in the late 1860s.

The painting is held by Statens Museum for Kunst, where it is inventoried as part of the national collection. It was accessioned in 1869, the same year as its creation. The work has not been listed in any documented exhibitions according to available records.

Context

P.C. Skovgaard emerged as a leading figure in the Danish Golden Age of painting, known for his evocative landscapes that blended Romantic idealism with meticulous natural observation. His work, including Rocky Hills near Civitella (1869), exemplifies this synthesis and contributed to a broader national artistic identity that celebrated Denmark's terrain. The painting is housed in the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains part of their permanent collection, underscoring its enduring significance within Danish art history.

Overview

Rocky Hills near Civitella is a 1869 oil painting by P. C. Skovgaard, a prominent Danish landscape painter. The work is part of the Statens Museum for Kunst collection.

Rocky Hills near Civitella
Rocky Hills near Civitella, Unknown

Artist & collection

Portrait of P. C. Skovgaard

Artist

P. C. Skovgaard

Peter Christian Thamsen Skovgaard (4 April 1817 – 13 April 1875), known as P. C. Skovgaard, was a Danish national romantic landscape painter. He is considered one of the leading landscape painters of the 19th century…

Frequently asked questions

Who painted Rocky Hills near Civitella?

Rocky Hills near Civitella was painted by P. C. Skovgaard in 1869.

Where can I see Rocky Hills near Civitella?

Rocky Hills near Civitella is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

What movement is Rocky Hills near Civitella?

Rocky Hills near Civitella is associated with Realism.