Provenance

William Esdaile

British, 1758 - 1837

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See all 23 works of art
This painting depicts a busy scene on a frozen river or lake, filled with a crowd of people. The horizon is in the center, showing boats and low buildings in the distance. Closer to us, many people are engaged in different activities on the ice. Some ride in a horse-drawn sled, while others play a game with long sticks and small round balls. The people wear colorful clothing in shades of red, blue, yellow, green, and black. Some of the women wear elaborate gowns with ruffled collars, while the men wear colorful suits and wide-brimmed hats. Other people wear simpler jackets and trousers. A few dogs run on the ice among the crowds. Aside from the colorful clothing, the color palette is mostly shades of cream, light gray, and pale blue.
Hendrick Avercamp, Winter Games on the Frozen River Ijssel, c. 1626, pen and black and gray ink with watercolor, gouache, and graphite on laid paper; laid down, Woodner Collection, Gift of Andrea Woodner, 2006.11.3

Winter Games on the Frozen River Ijssel

Hendrick Avercamp · c. 1626 · pen and black and gray ink with watercolor, gouache, and graphite on laid paper; laid down ·  Accession ID  2006.11.3

The image depicts two full-length figures facing each other. The person on the left is turned slightly to the side with their head slightly inclined forward, gesturing with both hands extended. This figure is wearing a long garment and a head covering while the facial features are not visible due to the angle. The person on the right is standing with their body slightly bent backward, hands on their hips. This figure has facial features lightly sketched, showing an older individual with a beard, dressed in loose clothing and wearing a cap. The sketch is drawn in ink on paper with light shading beneath the figures for ground shadow, with a plain paper surface in the background.
Rembrandt van Rijn, Beggar Man and Woman, c. 1630/1631, pen and brown ink on laid paper; laid down, The Armand Hammer Collection, 1991.217.7

Beggar Man and Woman

Rembrandt van Rijn · c. 1630/1631 · pen and brown ink on laid paper; laid down ·  Accession ID  1991.217.7

The image displays a portrait of a person from the waist up. The individual has a stern facial expression, high cheekbones, a slightly furrowed brow, and deep-set eyes. Their hair is pulled back tightly and appears short or tucked under a covering. The person is wearing a garment with a high collar featuring ornate buttons or clasps and an overgarment draping over the shoulders. The background is a simple, textured pattern. There are horizontal lines encircling the portrait and some text inscribed at the top, with small initials or marks to the side.
Georg Pencz, Wife of Georg Pencz, engraving, Rosenwald Collection, 1943.3.6728

Wife of Georg Pencz

Georg Pencz · · engraving ·  Accession ID  1943.3.6728

This is a drawing of a religious scene. The image depicts a gathering in an indoor setting with high, arching ceilings and columns. In the foreground, several individuals are kneeling and standing in a semicircle around a central figure lying on a floor or a platform. In the upper portion, two angels are overlooking the scene from above. This artwork has been rendered with delicate line work and shading, employing a monochrome palette with subtle color accents.
Bernardino Poccetti, The Death of the Blessed Buonagiunta Manetti, c. 1612, pen and brown ink with brown wash over black chalk, squared for transfer with red chalk on light brown laid paper, Wolfgang Ratjen Collection, Patrons' Permanent Fund, 2007.111.144

The Death of the Blessed Buonagiunta Manetti

Bernardino Poccetti · c. 1612 · pen and brown ink with brown wash over black chalk, squared for transfer with red chalk on light brown laid paper ·  Accession ID  2007.111.144

The image shows a circular composition with a knight on horseback in the center. The knight is clad in armor and tilts a lance towards a dragon on the ground. A woman in elaborate clothing and a small dog stand to the left, watching the confrontation. The background features a castle with towers and battlements. The scene is monochromatic, using shades of gray and black. Fine details are shown in the brushstrokes or etching marks, defining textures in the castle stonework and dragon scales. Various plants and rocky formations complete the landscape.
Israhel van Meckenem, Saint George and the Dragon, c. 1465/1470, engraving on laid paper, Gift of the 50th Anniversary Gift Committee, 1991.97.1

Saint George and the Dragon

Israhel van Meckenem · c. 1465/1470 · engraving on laid paper ·  Accession ID  1991.97.1

The image features a woman and a child beneath a large tree. The woman is seated with the child in her lap. She has long hair and a gentle expression, looking down. The child has curly hair and wide eyes, facing the viewer directly. The woman is draped in a flowing garment, with folds visible. They are outdoors, on grass, with a lamb nearby. In the background, there are stone towers, arched bridges, and a cloudy sky. The image is dated "1511".
Albrecht Dürer, The Virgin and Child with the Pear, 1511, engraving on laid paper, Rosenwald Collection, 1953.4.3

The Virgin and Child with the Pear

Albrecht Dürer · 1511 · engraving on laid paper ·  Accession ID  1953.4.3

Adriaen van Ostade, Interior of a Barn with a Peasant Woman at Work, 1647, etching, with touches of drypoint, on laid paper, Rosenwald Collection, 1946.11.118

Interior of a Barn with a Peasant Woman at Work

Adriaen van Ostade · 1647 · etching, with touches of drypoint, on laid paper ·  Accession ID  1946.11.118

The image shows a Renaissance-style sketch featuring four figures seated outdoors. There are three adult figures: a woman holding a small naked infant, a man with distinct cross-hatching across his face and clothing, and another woman holding a small naked child with wings—a cherubim-like figure—who is reaching towards the man. The individuals wear long, flowing robes and sit on a grassy patch surrounded by tall trees under a lightly sketched sky with wispy clouds. In the background, there is a small hill or mountain.
Simone Cantarini, The Holy Family, etching on laid paper, Gift of Herbert and Claiborne Pell, 1956.8.3

The Holy Family

Simone Cantarini · · etching on laid paper ·  Accession ID  1956.8.3

The image shows two full-length figures facing each other. The person on the left is standing and playing a long trumpet-like instrument. They have curly hair, delicate facial features, and wear a flowing gown. The person on the right is also standing, holding a long staff, with straight hair and a serene expression. Both figures wear detailed gowns and are set against a plain, grid-patterned background.
Fra Bartolommeo, One Angel Blowing a Trumpet, and Another Holding a Standard, c. 1500, pen and brown ink, squared in red chalk for transfer on laid paper; laid down, Woodner Collection, Gift of Andrea Woodner, 2006.11.5

One Angel Blowing a Trumpet, and Another Holding a Standard

Fra Bartolommeo · c. 1500 · pen and brown ink, squared in red chalk for transfer on laid paper; laid down ·  Accession ID  2006.11.5

Rembrandt van Rijn, Woman with the Arrow, 1661, etching, drypoint and burin on laid paper, Rosenwald Collection, 1944.2.62

Woman with the Arrow

Rembrandt van Rijn · 1661 · etching, drypoint and burin on laid paper ·  Accession ID  1944.2.62