Building by a Dam

1850-1860

John Frederick Kensett

Associated Names
John Frederick Kensett

Artist, American, 1816 - 1872

The image depicts a rocky landscape with a small waterfall flowing into a stream or pool of water. In the background, there is a wooden building on a rock and a low structure or fence extending towards the center-right. The artwork features delicate and sketch-like brushwork and pencil strokes, capturing the textures of rocks and foliage with light, varied lines. The color palette is muted with soft greys, off-whites, and a hint of light blue sky. Trees and shrubs are visible in the distance, enhancing the sense of depth without disrupting the tranquil atmosphere created by the flowing water and rustic structure.

Media Options

This object’s media is free and in the public domain. Read our full Open Access policy for images.
Not on view See artworks now on view

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    graphite over watercolor on wove paper

  • Credit Line

    Corcoran Collection (Museum Purchase)

  • Dimensions

    image: 13.34 × 21.27 cm (5 1/4 × 8 3/8 in.)
    sheet: 18.1 × 26.67 cm (7 1/8 × 10 1/2 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2015.19.559

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

(Ferargil Galleries, New York); Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, 1948; acquired 2015 by the National Gallery of Art

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1975

  • In Praise of Space, Westminster College Art Gallery, New Wilmington, Pennsylvania; Parsons School of Design, New York, 1975-1976

1977

  • Paper in Prints, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, 1977, no. 79

1979

  • Sketches by Contemporaries of Frederic E. Church, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, 1979

1983

  • American Master Drawings from the Collection, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, 1983

  • In Search of the Picturesque: Nineteenth Century Images of Industry Along the Hudson River Valley, Blum Art Institute, Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York; Hudson River Museum, Yonkers, New York; Albany Institute of History and Art, New York, 1983

1986

  • American Masters: Works on Paper from the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC; Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, 1986-1988, pp. 25-27, no. 12, repro

Bibliography

1983

  • Simmons, Linda Crocker and with the assistance of Adrianne J. Humphrey, et al. American Drawings, Watercolors, Pastels, and Collages in the Collection of the Corcoran Gallery of Art. Washington, DC: Corcoran Gallery of Art, 1983: p. 32, no. 227.

Inscriptions

lower left in graphite: J.K.

Markings

embossed lower right: ACKERMAN & CO.

Wikidata ID

Q64582643

You may be interested in

Loading Results