Arcadian landscape

1820–42

Not on view

A founding member of the Old Society of Painters in Water-Colours in 1805 and the author of "The Theory and Practice of Water-Colour Painting" (1840), George Barret numbers among the most influential draftsmen of his generation. In his idyllic landscape watercolors, Barret sought to replicate the golden tones of varnished oil paintings by Claude Lorraine (1600–1682) and Nicolas Poussin (1593/94–1665). Here, a mass of fiery leaves, its irregular pattern achieved through superimposed layers of fluid washes, fills the center of the composition and contrasts with the subtler yellow tones of a distant farmhouse and rustic bridge. Amid the warm harmony of reds, oranges, yellows, browns, and greens, the shepherd's bright blue cap sounds the single cool note.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Title: Arcadian landscape
Artist: George Barret, the younger (British, London 1767–1842 London)
Date: 1820–42
Medium: Watercolor over graphite
Dimensions: Overall: 7 7/8 x 10 3/8in. (20 x 26.4cm)
Classification: Drawings
Credit Line: Gift of Michael Hall Esquire, in honor of William Valentiner, 2000
Object Number: 2000.220
Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

By George Barret, the younger

In the same medium

From the same time and place

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

Cattle and sheep at resting at the edge of a forest, George Barret, the younger British, Watercolor and gouache (bodycolor) over graphite, with reductive techniques and gum arabic — Cattle and sheep at resting at the edge of a forest
George Barret, the younger
ca. 1840

The Lake of Zug, Joseph Mallord William Turner British, Watercolor and bodycolor (gouache) with reductive techniques over graphite — The Lake of Zug
Joseph Mallord William Turner
1843

Loggia of the Ducal Palace, Venice, John Ruskin British, Watercolor over graphite — Loggia of the Ducal Palace, Venice
John Ruskin
1849–50

Sabrina, Samuel Palmer British, Watercolor and gouache (bodycolor) over graphite, with reductive techniques, shell gold and gum arabic — Sabrina
Samuel Palmer
1856

Lady Lilith, Dante Gabriel Rossetti British, Watercolor and gouache (bodycolor) — Lady Lilith
Dante Gabriel Rossetti
Henry Treffry Dunn
1867

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.