Artwork
Solitude
Solitude is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Robert Barrett Browning. It dates from 1890 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1890, *Solitude* is an oil painting by the English artist Robert Barrett Browning, often referred to as Pen Browning. The work is classified within the Impressionist style and is part of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston’s permanent collection.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, the painting reflects the loose brushwork and emphasis on light characteristic of Impressionism. Browning’s handling of color and atmosphere suggests a fleeting, contemplative mood, aligning the piece with the movement’s focus on capturing momentary impressions rather than detailed realism.
History & Provenance
After its completion, *Solitude* entered the public domain through acquisition by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, where it remains on display. The painting’s provenance traces back to Browning’s own estate, reflecting his personal output separate from his literary family legacy.
Context
Pen Browning, the son of poets Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Browning, pursued a career in visual arts while also curating his parents’ literary archives. His broader interests included the restoration of the Venetian Baroque palace Ca’ Rezzonico, indicating a lifelong engagement with both artistic creation and preservation.
Artist & collection
Artist
Robert Wiedeman Barrett Browning, known as Pen Browning, (9 March 1849 – 8 July 1912) was an English painter.
California Landscape
Landskab nær Åkjær lige efter solnedgang
Tåget efterårsmorgen i udkanten af en birkeskov. Motiv fra egnen ved Silkeborg
Mountain Scenery with a River
Landskab nær Åkjær lige efter solnedgang
Landscape with Waterfall and Figures
Tåget efterårsmorgen i udkanten af en birkeskov. Motiv fra egnen ved Silkeborg
A Summer Afternoon
The Stream
Lake Henderson, Adirondacks
On the Wanaque
Sen eftermiddag ved Rössjön i Skåne