Who painted Lake Como, May 3, 1869 (verso, from sketchbook)?

Lake Como, May 3, 1869 (verso, from sketchbook) was painted by Jervis McEntee in 1869.

Where can I see Lake Como, May 3, 1869 (verso, from sketchbook)?

Lake Como, May 3, 1869 (verso, from sketchbook) is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Lake Como, May 3, 1869 (verso, from sketchbook)?

Lake Como, May 3, 1869 (verso, from sketchbook) is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Lake Como, May 3, 1869 (verso, from sketchbook)

Jervis McEntee , 1869

Lake Como, May 3, 1869 (verso, 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.

About this work

Overview

Part of a larger body of work by the artist, the piece reflects his engagement with landscape subjects during European travel.

Jervis McEntee’s *Lake Como, May 3, 1869* is a sketchbook drawing executed in graphite and white gouache on blue paper. Part of a larger body of work by the artist, the piece reflects his engagement with landscape subjects during European travel. Though less celebrated than some contemporaries, McEntee’s contributions to 19th-century American art remain notable for their observational precision and intimate scale.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing captures a tranquil lakeside scene framed by distant mountains. McEntee’s choice of Lake Como, a site often associated with Romantic and picturesque traditions, suggests an interest in both natural beauty and the cultural resonance of European landscapes. The date inscribed on the work anchors it in a specific moment of travel, emphasizing the artist’s practice of recording fleeting impressions.

Technique & Style

McEntee employed graphite to outline the landscape’s forms, while white gouache was used to heighten luminous effects on water and sky. The blue paper serves as a mid-tone, allowing the artist to build contrast without overworking the surface. This method aligns with the Hudson River School’s emphasis on atmospheric conditions, though McEntee’s approach remains more understated than the dramatic compositions of his peers.

History & Provenance

Created during McEntee’s European sojourn, the sketch was likely produced as part of a personal record rather than for exhibition. The work’s inclusion in a sketchbook indicates its role as a preparatory or documentary piece. McEntee’s unpublished journals, spanning 1872 to 1890, provide context for his artistic activities during this period, though the drawing itself was not widely circulated in his lifetime.

Context

McEntee’s ties to the Hudson River School situate this work within a broader movement dedicated to landscape painting. His friendships with figures like Frederic Edwin Church and Sanford Robinson Gifford highlight his immersion in New York’s artistic circles. The sketchbook format reflects the era’s growing interest in travel and direct observation, practices that shaped both American and European landscape traditions.