Who painted A Brittany Beadle—Sketch from Nature?

A Brittany Beadle—Sketch from Nature was painted by John La Farge in 1856.

Where can I see A Brittany Beadle—Sketch from Nature?

A Brittany Beadle—Sketch from Nature is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is A Brittany Beadle—Sketch from Nature?

A Brittany Beadle—Sketch from Nature is associated with American Folk Art.

Artwork

A Brittany Beadle—Sketch from Nature

John La Farge , 1856

A Brittany Beadle—Sketch from Nature is a watercolor work on paper by the American Folk Art artist John La Farge. It dates from 1856 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

A Brittany Beadle—Sketch from Nature is a watercolor, gouache, and graphite work on brown wove paper, created by John La Farge in 1856. This informal sketch captures a mundane scene of a seated man in everyday attire.

Subject & Meaning

The piece is a genre scene portraying an ordinary individual in a simple setting, reflecting the American folk art tradition of straightforward, observational depictions of everyday life.

Technique & Style

Executed in watercolor and gouache with graphite, the work exhibits a quick, informal quality, suggestive of a practice sketch. Its style aligns with early 19th-century American folk art.

History & Provenance

Dating to 1856, this piece precedes La Farge’s later specialization in stained glass design and innovations in color. It is part of The American Wing collection.

Context

Created during La Farge’s formative period, the sketch provides insight into his early artistic development before his shift towards more specialized mediums.

Artist & collection

Artist

John La Farge

John La Farge (March 31, 1835 – November 14, 1910) was an American artist whose career spanned illustration, murals, interior design, painting, and popular books on his Asian travels and other art-related topics.

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art

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