Artwork
Between the Cliffs, Newport
Between the Cliffs, Newport is a watercolor work on paper by the Hudson River School artist William Trost Richards. It dates from 1876 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows the rugged shoreline of Newport, Rhode Island, with a steep cliff descending toward the sea.
The painting shows the rugged shoreline of Newport, Rhode Island, with a steep cliff descending toward the sea. Richards renders the cliff and rolling hill in precise watercolor washes, emphasizing the texture of rock and the movement of surf, a hallmark of his marine landscapes. The composition reflects the 19th-century fascination with the American coast as both a natural sanctuary and a symbol of change, where the solid land meets the fleeting horizon.
By focusing on these geological forms, the work conveys a contemplative view of nature's permanence amid transient weather, aligning with the artist's broader interest in the sublime qualities of the coastal environment.
Technique & Style
Between the Cliffs, Newport is executed in gouache and watercolor on off-white wove paper, a combination that allows for both opaque and transparent effects. The work measures 15.9 × 11.3 cm, indicating a small-scale, intimate format typical of many of Richards's coastal studies. The medium of gouache and watercolor on paper suggests a direct, fluid handling suited to capturing the atmospheric conditions and geological textures of the Newport cliffs.
As a marine landscape, the composition emphasizes the dramatic interplay between rocky coastal formations and the surrounding sea and sky.
History & Provenance
Between the Cliffs, Newport was created by William Trost Richards in 1876, executed in gouache and watercolor on off-white wove paper. It is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, where it is classified within The American Wing as a landscape depicting Newport, cliffs, hills, and marine scenery. The available sources do not document an earlier provenance chain, a commissioning party, an accession number, or the specific circumstances by which the work came to the museum; only the 1876 date and its present institutional home are established.
Overview
Between the Cliffs, Newport (1876) is a landscape by American artist William Trost Richards, executed in gouache and watercolor on off-white wove paper. The work depicts a coastal scene in Newport, Rhode Island, characterized by rugged cliffs meeting the ocean. Richards, a prominent figure associated with the Hudson River School and American luminism, painted this piece during a period when he increasingly focused on detailed, naturalistic seascapes.
The composition relies on the artist's practice of working directly from nature, a method that allowed for precise observation of geological textures and atmospheric light. In this work, the off-white tone of the paper remains visible, contributing to a luminous quality that enhances the sense of air and light. Richards employs fine, deliberate strokes to render the grass and rock formations, creating a sense of quiet stillness.
The piece exemplifies his transition toward a more intimate, scientifically observant style of landscape painting, distinguishing his later marine subjects from the grander, more dramatic vistas typical of his earlier career. The medium of watercolor and gouache allows for both transparency and opacity, enabling the artist to capture the specific luminosity of the New England coast.
Artist & collection
