Artwork
A Monastery, probably in Turkey or Greece
A Monastery, probably in Turkey or Greece is a watercolor work on paper by the American Folk Art artist William Page. It dates from 1834 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
A Monastery, probably in Turkey or Greece is a watercolour by William Page, created between 1828 and 1840. Characterized by soft colours and loose brushstrokes, the piece exemplifies the artist's later picturesque style.
Subject & Meaning
The artwork depicts a serene, aged monastery with weathered stone walls, arched doorways, and a tiled roof. Two figures are present: one reading on a ledge, the other standing in an archway, conveying a sense of quiet, longstanding presence.
Technique & Style
Page employed loose brushstrokes and muted colours to emphasize the textures of the stone building and its surroundings, creating a sense of worn tranquility.
History & Provenance
Acquired from Beckett in October 1967 for £15, the work is part of a series of landscapes from the late 1820s to 1830s, distinguishing it from Page's earlier costume studies and architectural scenes.
Context
Similar landscapes by Page, some signed, are housed in the British Museum, contextualizing this piece within the artist's broader output of the period.
Artist & collection
Italian villa
The Episcopal Palace at Viterbo, Italy
Italian landscape, with an ancient Roman sarcophagus
Old Shoreham Church, Sussex
Fountain at Jerusalem near the House of Dives
Το Τζαμί του Τζισδαράκη στο Μοναστηράκι
Kilchurn Castle
Courtyard of Haddon Hall, Derbyshire
Cortile della Casa Salviati, Venice
Strada di Aquila
Italian landscape
The Monastery in the Forest