Collections Giovanni Battista Cima, called Cima da Conegliano Christ on the Cross with the Virgin and Saint John the Evangelist Probably Conegliano, near Venice, about 1488-93 Tempera on wood 82.5 x 115.2 cm The Virgin Mary and Saint John mourn at the foot of a tall cross. To the right, Christ prays in the Garden of … Read more
Thomas Fearnley Ramsau Ramsau, Bavarian Alps, Germany, 1832 Oil on paper, laid on canvas 28 x 27 cm Fearnley painted this finished composition from nature in September 1832. The artist was travelling to Italy when he stopped at the village of Ramsau, high in the Bavarian Alps. His broad and fluid technique allowed him to … Read more
Mademoiselle Malo Paris, the early 1870s Pastel on paper 522 X 411 MM Mademoiselle Malo has not been conclusively identified, but apparently she was a dancer at the Paris Opéra. Degas began to use pastel for portrait studies in the 1870s and this fine example is one of the earliest. Degas appreciated the qualities of … Read more
Attributed to Alfred De Dreux A Horse in a Landscape Paris, possibly the 1830s Oil on canvas 34.3 x 44.4 cm This study was originally attributed to Théodore Géricault (1791-1824), but it is closer in style to his compatriot De Dreux who specialised in equestrian subjects. He was much influenced by Gericault, but also by … Read more
Charles-François Daubigny A Seascape Brittany, possibly 1867 Oil on canvas 84 x 146.5 cm This seascape probably dates from one of the artist’s trips to the rocky coast of Brittany. Even such large canvases as this were painted on the spot by Daubigny. The artist uses a range of techniques to capture the different textures … Read more
Aelbert Cuyp Huntsmen Halted Dordrecht, Holland, the early 1650s Oil on canvas 92.7 x 130.8 cm It has been suggested that the huntsmen might be the three sons of Cornelis van Beveren, a diplomat and wealthy patron from Cuyp’s home town of Dordrecht. However, there is insufficient evidence for this. They wear fashionable Hungarian hunting … Read more
John Crome and John Berney Crome A View near Harwich Norwich, about 1805/7, overpainted about 1832 Oil on canvas 114.3 x 96.5 cm This painting was begun by John Crome about 1805/7, but it was overpainted by his son around 1832. The alterations were made so that it formed a pair with John Berney Crome’s … Read more
Ecce Homo Genoa, about 1625-6 Oil on canvas 101.5 x 78.7 cm ‘Behold the man!’ (Ecce Homo) said Pontius Pilate, on presenting Jesus to a hostile crowd before his Crucifixion. Here, his pale body and resigned expression encourage the viewer to see Christ sympathetically, in comparison to the representation of the Black soldier. Van Dyck … Read more
Cornelis Dusart The Milk Seller Haarlem, Holland, 1679 Oil on wood 38.8 x 29.5 cm This, Dusart’s earliest dated work, was produced in the year he completed his studies with Adriaen van Ostade (1610-1685). It is based on a drawing by his teacher which typically shows a peasant scene. A travelling milk seller, with … Read more
Karel Dujardin A Landscape with Cattle and Figures Amsterdam, about 1661/5 Oil on wood 28 x 34 cm Two boys relax in the evening sun, the animals in their care arranged informally in the landscape. Dujardin painted numerous scenes of animals and herders travelling and resting, with a sensitive feeling for light. Here, the artist adopts … Read more
Gaspard Dughet, called Gaspard Poussin A Classical Landscape with Figures Rome, about 1672/5 Oil on canvas 36.8 x 47 cm Dughet’s classical scenes are different in mood from those of his teacher Nicolas Poussin and the other major Roman landscape painter of the period, Claude Lorrain. He studied in the countryside around Tivoli, producing landscapes … Read more
André Derain Portrait of Bartolomeo Savona London, 1906 Oil on canvas 45.7 x 35.4 cm Savona was a Sicilian student who was staying in the guest house Derain used during his visit to London in 1906. According to family legend, Savona acted as the artist’s translator when he needed to visit a dentist. He then … Read more
Maurice Denis A Portrait of Arthur Huc Paris, 1892 Oil on millboard 28.5 x 53.5 cm This portrait was given by Denis to his patron and supporter Arthur Huc (1854 – 1932). He was an art critic and newspaper owner in Toulouse. The artist adopts an unusual horizontal format, allowing him to frame the nonchalantly-posed … Read more
Eugène Delacroix Saint Stephen Borne Away by his Disciples Paris, 1862 Oil on canvas 46.6 x 38 cm Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr, was stoned to death outside the walls of Jerusalem in 35 AD. As darkness falls, his disciples carry away his body. They look anxiously about, whilst one cleans blood from the … Read more
Govert Flinck A Portrait of a Boy Amsterdam, 1640 Oil on canvas 73.3 x 91.8 cm This engaging portrait possibly shows David Leeuw who would have been about eight years old in 1640. He was related to the artist and was the son of a wealthy businessman and art collector. The full-length pose and the … Read more
Domenico Fetti The Blind Leading the Blind Probably Mantua, about 1621/2 Oil on wood 60.7 x 44.2 cm Fetti illustrated many of Christ’s parables, creating a new type of small-scale religious genre painting. Here, three peasants, one with an extinguished lamp, foolishly follow their blind leader into a ditch, illustrating Christ’s warning to His disciples. … Read more
A Woman Looking for Fleas Bologna, about 1715/20 Oil on canvas 49.5 x 38 cm It is night, and a partially undressed woman surrounded by her stays, skirt hoops and stockings, searches for fleas. She has placed a pot of water in front of her in which to drown them. At the top, two boys … Read more
Gustave Courbet The Sea-Arch at Etretat Etretat, Normandy, 1869 Oil on canvas 76.2 x 123.1 cm The spectacular cliffs at Etretat culminate in a dramatic sea-arch with a needle of rock beyond. Courbet visited in the summer of 1869 and in a month completed five views of the cliffs and numerous seascapes. He worked quickly, … Read more
Attributed to Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot Wooded Landscape with a Pond Paris, the mid-1830s Oil on canvas 46.4 x 74.1 cm This landscape possibly shows a scene at Le Martinet, near Montpellier in South France. Corot sketched there in 1836 and this studio work resembles a pencil drawing dated to that year. The painting is signed and … Read more
Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot Landscape with Distant Mountains Central France, the early 1840s Oil on canvas 18 x 29.8 cm This is one of numerous small informal studies that Corot painted on the spot throughout his life. One such as this would have taken no more than a single session to complete. He made them as private … Read more
An Imitator of John Constable The Glebe Farm England, the mid-19th century Oil on canvas 99 x 124.5 cm This was bought as a major work by Constable, one of a number of views of the glebe farm near Langham church, Essex. However, the colouring and brushwork do not match any of Constable’s works and … Read more
Jean-Joseph-Xavier Bidauld A Cascade on the River Liri Isola del Liri, Italy, 1787 Oil on paper, laid down on canvas 25.4 x 39.4 cm Bidauld’s oil sketch was painted on the spot during the French artist’s stay in Italy (1785-90). The artist made numerous such studies from which he later painted large historical landscapes in … Read more
Bicci di Lorenzo Saint Romuald Florence, second quarter of the 15th century Tempera on wood 34.3 x 22.8 cm This panel formed the main part of a standard which was carried on processional occasions. The open book is inscribed with the words that the spectators would have used: ‘My father Romuald, most excellent hermit, intercede … Read more
Giovanni Bellini A Portrait of a Boy Venice, about 1475 Oil on wood 38 x 23 cm This panel originally formed the lid of an inheritance chest. This was constructed to hold the marble bust of Angelo Probi who died in 1474. He was ambassador to Venice for the King of Naples. The portrait therefore probably … Read more
Jan van de Cappelle Boats on the River Waal Amsterdam, the 1650s Oil on canvas 71 x 63.5 cm This landscape shows a ferry, as well as fishing and trading vessels, on the choppy waters of the River Waal in southern Holland. The church tower of Gorinchem is to the left, with Loevestein Castle on … Read more
John Brett Kennack Sands Cornwall, 1876 Oil on board 18 x 36 cm This work is typical of Brett’s small ‘on the spot’ oil sketches. He was in Cornwall in the summer of 1876, finding inspiration on the Lizard peninsula. This sketch was taken from the western end of Kennack Sands, looking east towards the distant … Read more
Pieter Brueghel the Younger Two Peasants Binding Firewood Antwerp, about 1604-16 Oil on panel 36.2 x 27.3 cm A woodland clearing during winter or early spring, perhaps February or March. Two men tie a bundle of firewood, while in the background a third man chops branches from a tree. Are these innocent, hardworking woodsmen, or … Read more
Abraham van Calraet Horses and Cattle in a Landscape Dordrecht, the later 1600s Oil on wood 36 x 53.3 cm A carefully-posed group of horses, cattle and a sleeping dog occupy a river landscape. A passing peasant talks with a herdsman. Calraet’s animal scenes, often with subtle evening effects, are closely based on the work … Read more
Eugène Boudin A Beach near Trouville Trouville, Normandy, 1895 Oil on canvas 54.3 x 81.2 cm This scene was painted on the spot and it is dated the 11th October, 1895. Boudin was born nearby on the Normandy coast and he painted its beaches and harbours throughout his career. This is a more solitary scene … Read more
