Artwork
June Day
June Day is an unspecified painting by the Hudson River School artist William Trost Richards. It dates from 1870 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
June Day, painted in 1870 by American landscape artist William Trost Richards, depicts a tranquil woodland scene illuminated by late‑summer sunlight. The work is part of the permanent collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is displayed among other 19th‑century American vistas.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas presents a forested valley where a gentle river bisects the composition, its surface mirroring the surrounding trees and a sky softened by drifting clouds. The interplay of green and yellow foliage suggests the height of summer, evoking a sense of calm and the quiet passage of time within nature.
Technique & Style
Rich in detail, Richards renders the texture of bark, leaf, and water with meticulous brushwork, emphasizing the way sunlight filters through the canopy. His handling of light creates a luminous effect, while the precise rendering of natural forms aligns the painting with the American Luminist tradition of the mid‑1800s.
History & Provenance
Created in the post‑Civil War period, June Day entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection through acquisition in the early 20th century, reflecting the institution’s early focus on American landscape painting. The work has remained in the museum’s holdings, contributing to its representation of 19th‑century regional art.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
