The Pool (Memory of the Forest of Chambord)

The work titled "The Pool (Memory of the Forest of Chambord)" was created by Théodore Rousseau in 1839 as an oil painting on panel, depicting a forest landscape inspired by the Forest of Chambord. Its creation history is tied to Rousseau’s interest in the French woodland, and the painting is dated to that year. After its execution, it entered the collection of Robert Lehman, who later donated the piece to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is presently housed.

The dating and medium are documented in contemporary records, and the ownership chain from artist to collector to museum is established by the cited sources.

The Pool (Memory of the Forest of Chambord) by Théodore Rousseau is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it forms part of the Robert Lehman Collection. The painting is catalogued as an oil-on-panel landscape measuring 32.4 by 40.6 centimeters. No specific accession number, acquisition date, or exhibition history is documented in the available sources.

Théodore Rousseau, a prominent French painter, completed The Pool (Memory of the Forest of Chambord) in 1839 using oil on canvas. This work exemplifies the Barbizon school's dedication to rendering natural landscapes. It captures a tranquil forest scene, featuring a body of water and distant architectural elements, reflecting the movement's focus on direct observation and evocative portrayals of nature. The painting is held in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

As a leading figure of the Barbizon school, Théodore Rousseau was instrumental in shifting artistic focus towards unidealized depictions of the natural world. This movement, active in the mid-19th century, championed painting directly from nature, particularly emphasizing rural French forests and countryside. The Pool (Memory of the Forest of Chambord) reflects this commitment, moving away from academic conventions to embrace a more intimate and authentic representation of landscape.