Who painted Kensington Gardens, No. 1?

Kensington Gardens, No. 1 was painted by Francis Seymour Haden in 1859.

Where can I see Kensington Gardens, No. 1?

Kensington Gardens, No. 1 is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Kensington Gardens, No. 1?

Kensington Gardens, No. 1 is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Kensington Gardens, No. 1

Francis Seymour Haden , 1859

Kensington Gardens, No. 1 is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Francis Seymour Haden. It dates from 1859 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Francis Seymour Haden’s print titled Kensington Gardens, No. 1 was produced in 1859 using a combination of etching and drypoint on Japan paper. The work is part of the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and exemplifies Haden’s interest in landscape subjects rendered through printmaking.

Subject & Meaning

The image depicts a tranquil park scene, with skeletal trees whose twisted limbs frame a central vista. Behind neatly clipped hedges, a classical building with columns rises, while a narrow waterway—perhaps a pond or canal—extends across the foreground, mirroring the dark outlines of the surrounding foliage.

Technique & Style

Haden employed both etching and drypoint, allowing him to juxtapose fine, etched lines with the more vigorous, ragged strokes of drypoint. This dual approach creates a tactile sense of bark texture and water surface, the latter rendered through subtle tonal variations on the delicate Japan paper.

History & Provenance

Created in the late 1850s, the print entered the National Gallery of Art’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it remains accessible for study. Its provenance reflects the broader 19th‑century appreciation of British printmakers among American collectors.