Artwork
Chemin de By au bois des Roches-Courtaut, été de la St Martin
Chemin de By au bois des Roches-Courtaut, été de la St Martin is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Alfred Sisley. It dates from 1891 and is held in the collection of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1891, this oil on canvas by Alfred Sisley portrays a quiet country lane beside a river, likely the Seine, under a pale sky. The composition balances foreground foliage rendered in warm golds with the reflective blues of water, while distant structures hint at a settled landscape. The painting exemplifies Sisley’s lifelong commitment to capturing natural light and atmosphere.
Subject & Meaning
The work focuses on a tranquil rural scene: a path winding through trees and bushes, bordered by a gently flowing river. The modest architecture in the background suggests a small settlement, reinforcing the theme of everyday countryside life. The calm palette and soft clouds convey a sense of peaceful repose, inviting contemplation of the landscape’s quiet rhythms.
Technique & Style
Executed en plein air, Sisley employs loose, expressive brushwork characteristic of Impressionism. Warm, golden tones dominate the vegetation, while the water mirrors the sky’s pale blue, creating a subtle chromatic dialogue. The handling of light and atmosphere, achieved through rapid, layered strokes, imparts a fleeting, lived-in quality to the scene.
History & Provenance
After remaining in the artist’s estate, the painting entered the collection of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, where it is currently displayed. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s focus on 19th‑century European art and provides a representative example of Sisley’s later output within a public institution.
Artist & collection
Artist
Alfred Sisley (; French: ; 30 October 1839–29 January 1899) was a French-Born British Impressionist landscape painter who was born to British parents, but spent most of his life in France.
