Artwork
Lake Maggiore May 12 1869 (recto, from sketchbook)
Lake Maggiore May 12 1869 (recto, from sketchbook) is a watercolor work on paper by the Hudson River School artist Jervis McEntee. It dates from 1869 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Jervis McEntee, an artist associated with the Hudson River School, created Lake Maggiore May 12 1869 during his travels in 1869. This work, executed in a sketchbook, captures a landscape featuring a tranquil lake, distant mountains, and a structure, rendered with graphite, watercolor, and white gouache on blue paper. It offers a glimpse into his on-site observations.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents a quiet lake curving between two dark hills under a pale sky. Trees with quickly sketched branches lean over the water, contributing to the scene's serene atmosphere. The title's precise date, "May 12 1869," emphasizes that this is an immediate impression, a swift visual record of a particular moment during McEntee's journey, rather than a formalized studio painting.
Technique & Style
McEntee employed a combination of graphite, watercolor, and white gouache on blue paper to construct this scene.
McEntee employed a combination of graphite, watercolor, and white gouache on blue paper to construct this scene. He applied thin washes of watercolor, building the landscape in layers, while graphite defined forms. The blue paper serves as a mid-tone, allowing the white gouache to stand out, effectively suggesting sunlight or reflections on the water's surface and adding a luminous quality to the sketch.
Context
Though not as widely recognized as some of his contemporaries, Jervis McEntee was a member of the Hudson River School and maintained close ties with its leading figures. This particular work originated from a small sketchbook used during his travels, reflecting a common practice among artists of the period to document their observations directly from nature. McEntee also extensively chronicled his experiences and the artistic milieu of his time in personal journals.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jervis McEntee (July 14, 1828 – January 27, 1891) was an American painter of the Hudson River School.
Saturday Afternoon
Autumn in the Catskills![Village, Mountains, and Lake [Maggiore?] (recto, from sketchbook), by Jervis McEntee](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/jervis-mcentee--village-mountains-and-lake-maggiore-recto-from-sketchbook--3cfb09e258099ce7-w320.webp)
Village, Mountains, and Lake [Maggiore?] (recto, from sketchbook)
Mount Desert Island, Maine
Lake Como, May 1, 1869 (verso, from sketchbook)
Lake Maggiore, May 11,1869: Village and Landscape (recto, from Sketchbook)
Village on Lake Como: May 1, 1869 (verso, from sketchbook)
Lake Como, May 1, 1869 (recto, from sketchbook)