Who painted Cloud Study (recto, from sketchbook)?

Cloud Study (recto, from sketchbook) was painted by Jervis McEntee in 1869.

Where can I see Cloud Study (recto, from sketchbook)?

Cloud Study (recto, from sketchbook) is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Cloud Study (recto, from sketchbook)?

Cloud Study (recto, from sketchbook) is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Cloud Study (recto, from sketchbook)

Jervis McEntee , 1869

Cloud Study (recto, from sketchbook) is a gouache drawing by the Impressionist artist Jervis McEntee. It dates from 1869 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Created in 1869, this compact study records a single cloud rendered in opaque white on a blue ground.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1869, this compact study records a single cloud rendered in opaque white on a blue ground. Executed by Jervis McEntee, a painter linked to the Hudson River School, the piece functions as a quick field observation rather than a finished composition, capturing a fleeting atmospheric moment.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing isolates a cumulus formation, emphasizing its luminous edges against a muted sky. By focusing solely on the cloud, McEntee explores the interplay of light and atmosphere, suggesting the transient quality of weather and the visual experience of a summer day observed outdoors.

Technique & Style

Applied with thick white gouache, the pigment stands out sharply on the blue paper, allowing the artist to model volume through subtle gradations of opacity. The handling is brisk and gestural, characteristic of on‑site sketching, while the simplified forms reflect the Hudson River School’s interest in natural observation.

History & Provenance

The study originates from a small sketchbook McEntee kept while working en plein air. It entered the American Wing collection of the museum through a mid‑20th‑century donation of the artist’s papers, providing insight into his preparatory methods and the broader artistic climate of post‑Civil War New York.

Context

During the Gilded Age, American landscape artists frequently produced such studies to record atmospheric conditions for larger studio works. McEntte’s notebooks, written later in his career, reveal his engagement with contemporary artistic circles and the social milieu of New York’s burgeoning art scene.