Artwork

Island of San Bartolomeo, Rome

Island of San Bartolomeo, Rome, by Jean Baptiste Camille Corot, unspecified, 1845
Island of San Bartolomeo, Rome, by Jean Baptiste Camille Corot, unspecified, 1845

Island of San Bartolomeo, Rome is an unspecified painting by the Barbizon school artist Jean Baptiste Camille Corot. It dates from 1845 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.

About this work

Overview

Island of San Bartolomeo, Rome, a landscape painting by Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, dates to circa 1845. It exemplifies the artist's transitional style, blending Neo-Classical structure with the naturalism of plein-air painting.

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts Tiber Island in Rome, focusing on its serene riverside setting. An ancient building, with a tall tower and adjacent structures, occupies the island, connected to the mainland by a bridge. The composition conveys a sense of tranquility.

Technique & Style

Corot's characteristic approach is evident in the structured composition and the emphasis on atmospheric light and shadow, which create depth. The muted palette, dominated by browns and greens, enhances the calm, contemplative mood.

History & Provenance

The work is part of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston's collection, reflecting Corot's influence by the Barbizon School's naturalistic landscape traditions.

Context

Created during Corot's engagement with plein-air techniques, the painting bridges traditional Neo-Classical landscape painting with emerging naturalistic approaches, characteristic of the mid-19th-century European art scene.

Legacy

While specific lasting impacts of *Island of San Bartolomeo, Rome* on the broader art historical canon are not prominently documented, it remains a notable example of Corot's transitional style, influencing later landscape painters in capturing light and atmosphere.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Jean Baptiste Camille Corot

Artist

Jean Baptiste Camille Corot

Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot (UK: KORR-oh, US: kə-ROH, kor-OH; French: ; 16 July 1796 – 22 February 1875), or simply Camille Corot, was a French landscape and portrait painter as well as a printmaker in etching.