Artwork
Cypress Bough
Cypress Bough is a watercolor work on paper by the American Folk Art artist Mary Russell Smith. It dates from 1857 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1857, Mary Russell Smith’s work titled Cypress Bough is executed in watercolor and gouache on paper. The composition is dominated by a solitary cypress branch that stretches across the surface, set against a muted sky. The piece is part of the American Wing collection, representing a modest yet focused study of natural form rather than a sweeping landscape.
Subject & Meaning
The artwork isolates a single branch of Cupressus, emphasizing the texture of its dark, needle‑like foliage against a light background. By stripping away surrounding scenery, Smith invites contemplation of the tree’s quiet presence, suggesting an appreciation for the subtle beauty found in ordinary botanical subjects.
Technique & Style
Smith employs a combination of watercolor’s translucency and gouache’s opacity, allowing the paper to shine through the thin washes and give the branch a luminous quality. Soft, almost fuzzy brushwork renders the needles, while delicate glazing builds depth without overt dramatization, reflecting a restrained, observational approach typical of mid‑nineteenth‑century American watercolorists.
History & Provenance
The piece was produced during a period when many contemporaries favored grand vistas or portraiture. Smith’s choice of a modest botanical study marks a divergence from prevailing trends. Cypress Bough now resides in the American Wing, where it contributes to the museum’s representation of 19th‑century American watercolor practice.
Artist & collection
