1956.24.247
An Italian Lake
Artist
William Trost Richards
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 11/14/1833 - 11/1905, Newport, Rhode Island);
William Trost Richards
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 11/14/1833 - 11/1905, Newport, Rhode Island)
Title
An Italian Lake
Creation Date
1871
Century
19th century
Dimensions
5 1/8 in. x 8 13/16 in. (13.02 cm x 22.38 cm)
Object Type
watercolor
Creation Place
North America, United States
Medium and Support
gouache on off-white wove paper mounted on cardboard
Credit Line
Gift of Miss Susan Dwight Bliss
Copyright
Public Domain
Accession Number
1956.24.247
Created in the year of Richard’s acceptance as a full member to the National Academy of Design, this work demonstrates the extraordinary subtlety of his celebrated works on paper. In a sweeping view across a yet unidentified lake in Northern Italy, towards majestic alpine peaks, Richards makes apparent what has drawn tourists to the region since Roman times: fresh, crystal-clear lake water, Mediterranean vegetation along the shores, and breathtaking mountain panoramas. With nuances of color--mostly blue and green--he recreates the atmosphere of an early spring morning, which is so quiet that the lake turns into a mirror. As one of the first American artists to subscribe to the pre-Raphaelite style, Richards took to heart John Ruskin’s plea for absolute fidelity to nature.