Artwork
Village, Mountains, and Lake [Maggiore?] (recto, from sketchbook)
![Village, Mountains, and Lake [Maggiore?] (recto, from sketchbook), by Jervis McEntee, watercolor, 1869](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/jervis-mcentee--village-mountains-and-lake-maggiore-recto-from-sketchbook--3cfb09e258099ce7-w1024.webp)
Village, Mountains, and Lake [Maggiore?] (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
Created in 1869, this drawing by Jervis McEntee combines graphite, white gouache and watercolor on a blue sheet of paper. The composition presents a tranquil lakeside scene where a modest village nestles beneath dark, rising mountains, its rooftops highlighted by the bright white pigment.
Subject & Meaning
The work captures a serene natural setting, emphasizing the relationship between human habitation and the surrounding landscape. The calm lake mirrors the sky, while the encircling peaks convey a sense of enclosure, reflecting the Hudson River School’s interest in the sublime qualities of the American wilderness, even when depicting a European locale.
Technique & Style
Executed as a field sketch, the piece shows swift, assured pencil lines that define forms, overlaid with delicate washes of watercolor that suggest atmospheric light. The choice of blue paper provides a cool undertone, allowing the white gouache to act as a luminous highlight, especially on the village rooftops.
History & Provenance
McEntee, a lesser‑known but well‑connected member of the Hudson River School, produced the drawing during a period of active travel and study. Though the exact location is uncertain—possibly Lake Maggiore—the sketch entered the American Wing collection, where it remains as evidence of his on‑site practice and his network within the 19th‑century art community.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jervis McEntee (July 14, 1828 – January 27, 1891) was an American painter of the Hudson River School.
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Lake Maggiore May 12 1869 (recto, from sketchbook)
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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)