Who painted Remembrance of Italy (Souvenir d'Italie)?

Remembrance of Italy (Souvenir d'Italie) was painted by Alphonse Legros in 1874.

Where can I see Remembrance of Italy (Souvenir d'Italie)?

Remembrance of Italy (Souvenir d'Italie) is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Remembrance of Italy (Souvenir d'Italie)?

Remembrance of Italy (Souvenir d'Italie) is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Remembrance of Italy (Souvenir d'Italie)

Alphonse Legros , 1874

Remembrance of Italy (Souvenir d'Italie) is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Alphonse Legros. It dates from 1874 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Alphonse Legros produced the etching *Remembrance of Italy* (also known as *Souvenir d'Italie*) in 1874. Executed as a single‑plate intaglio print, the work presents a tranquil rural landscape with a winding road that recedes toward a distant structure, framed by gentle hills, scattered trees and a soft, blue sky.

Subject & Meaning

The composition evokes a nostalgic vision of an Italian countryside, emphasizing calm and repose. The modest stone wall, the meandering path, and the distant building together suggest a journey through a peaceful, timeless setting, inviting contemplation of memory and place.

Technique & Style

Legros employed traditional etching methods, drawing the image with acid‑etched lines on a copper plate and printing it on paper. The delicate gradations of tone and fine hatching convey atmospheric depth, while the restrained palette reinforces the work’s serene mood.

History & Provenance

Born in France in 1837, Legros settled in London in 1863 and later became a naturalized British citizen. His teaching at the Royal Academy contributed significantly to the revival of British etching in the late nineteenth century, and *Remembrance of Italy* exemplifies his engagement with printmaking alongside painting, sculpture, and medallic art.

Context

The print reflects the broader nineteenth‑century fascination with Italian scenery among artists traveling abroad. Legros’s choice of a quiet, idealized landscape aligns with contemporary Romantic and Realist tendencies that prized both personal sentiment and faithful observation of nature.