Artwork
Catskill Clove
Catskill Clove is a watercolor work on paper by the Hudson River School artist William Rickarby Miller. It dates from 1856 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 93.24.3
- Credit line
- Gift of Mrs. A. M. Miller, 1893
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting Catskill Clove portrays a solitary tree in a rugged gorge, a motif that symbolizes resilience amid the untamed American wilderness. Miller’s rendering emphasizes the tree’s endurance against a dramatic landscape, reflecting 19th‑century ideals of nature’s sublime power and the nation’s expanding frontier.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1856, the work combines watercolor and gouache with graphite on a light green wove paper support.
Executed in 1856, the work combines watercolor and gouache with graphite on a light green wove paper support. The handling balances translucent washes with denser gouache passages to model foliage and rock textures, while graphite underdrawing remains visible in areas of refined detail.
The composition centers on a dense foliated tree rising beside a rocky outcrop, with the Catskill landscape rendered through layered wet-into-wet passages that suggest atmospheric recession. Patches of opaque gouache articulate highlights on stone and leaf clusters, contrasting with the paper’s greenish tint to evoke the region’s characteristic light and humidity.
History & Provenance
William Rickarby Miller created Catskill Clove in 1856 as a watercolor, gouache, and graphite work on light green wove paper, depicting a tree. The piece measures 50.6 cm in height and 36.4 cm in width and is part of The American Wing collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The artwork entered the museum's collection through a documented acquisition, remaining in the institution's holdings since its creation. Its provenance reflects continuous stewardship by the Met, with no recorded private ownership prior to institutional accession.
The work is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, where it is recorded as an American Wing holding and carries the accession number 65.23.
It was exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1973 as part of the display titled “American Watercolors and Drawings from the Collection.”
Overview
Created in 1856, William Rickarby Miller’s work titled Catskill Clove is executed on light‑green wove paper with watercolor, gouache, and graphite. The composition presents a tranquil river winding through steep, verdant hills, its surface catching the sun’s reflection. A solitary tree leans over the riverbank, anchoring the scene and inviting the viewer’s eye along the water’s course.
Artist & collection
