Provenance

Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Smith

Smith, Robert H. and Clarice
Smith, Robert H. Mrs.
Clarice R. Smith Revocable Trust

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Livestock, woodland animals, and about a dozen people cluster in groups throughout a densely wooded landscape with rocky outcroppings and the ruins of a round structure in this horizontal painting. The people all appear to have light skin. A narrow river curves from near the lower left corner of the composition back around a grove of trees on a spit of land. One white, long-necked bird stands near a rock on the riverbank, and a second bird, shown in flight low over the water, clutches a short snake in its beak. Three deer stand in the deeply shadowed trees, and two goats perch on the rocky cliffs that rise steeply beyond the deer. Across the composition, in the lower right corner, a man wearing a gray jacket and high boots, red pants, and a floppy, wide-brimmed, gray hat stands with a long staff propped on one shoulder. He has ruddy complexion and a bulbous nose. He is surrounded by seven brown, gray, tan, and black cows and three pale gray goats. He and his livestock are backed by a screen of tall, leafy trees. The spaces around the cowherd and the deer to the left are shadowed to create a dark U across the bottom of the landscape, so the sunlit scene beyond is notably lighter in comparison. Just above the center of the composition, plants and trees grow on and among the ruins of the gray, round tower. Two arched openings extending to our left also crumble and are largely taken over with plants. At the base of the tower, water pours from a spigot into a rectangular, presumably stone trough. Three cows drink from the trough while more cows and a herd of about a dozen sheep stand and lie nearby. Several men sit, stand, or kneel near the cows around the trough. Painted loosely with pale gray and tan, several people pass under the archway closest to the tower. One person rides a donkey there. Close by, two elegantly dressed men wearing hats, perhaps turbans, stand and gesture with one arm raised. One man wears a charcoal-gray cloak over a red tunic and pants, and the other wears a forest-green cloak over yellow clothing. Another donkey and at least two smaller animals, perhaps dogs, stand near the men and the second archway, to our left. A grassy hill rises sharply behind the archways to the edge of a dense forest, where the camels, birds, perhaps peacocks, and other men stand. Along the right edge of the painting, beyond the cowherd and cows, the land dips into a wooded valley, painted in tones of pale aquamarine and ice blue. About two dozen birds of varying sizes fly over the tower and valley. White clouds float against the vibrant blue sky. The artist signed and dated the work as if written on the face of the rock near the white birds, “ROELANT SAVERŸ FE 1624.”
Roelandt Savery, Landscape with the Flight into Egypt, 1624, oil on panel, Gift of Robert H. and Clarice Smith, in Honor of the 50th Anniversary of the National Gallery of Art, 1989.22.1

Landscape with the Flight into Egypt

Roelandt Savery · 1624 · oil on panel ·  Accession ID  1989.22.1

Cornelis Norbertus Gijsbrechts, A Hanging Wall Pouch, c. 1677, oil on panel, mirrored glass, Gift of Robert H. and Clarice Smith, 2022.181.81

A Hanging Wall Pouch

Cornelis Norbertus Gijsbrechts · c. 1677 · oil on panel, mirrored glass ·  Accession ID  2022.181.81

This painting features a landscape with a body of water stretching towards the horizon. The horizon includes dark windmills and sailboats silhouetted against the sky, with reflections on the still, yellow water. The sky is cloudy, and the setting sun at the center of the painting casts a pale-yellow glow across the center of the scene, while the edges are in shadow. Closest to us, there is grassy terrain with a wide dirt path and two rowboats near the water. The color palette is muted with browns, grays, and yellow tones.
Anthonie van Borssom, River Scene with Windmill and Boats, Evening, c. 1645, oil on panel, Gift of Robert H. and Clarice Smith , 2012.99.1

River Scene with Windmill and Boats, Evening

Anthonie van Borssom · c. 1645 · oil on panel ·  Accession ID  2012.99.1

A man and woman on horseback are on a strip of land also occupied by livestock, dogs, and seven other people in front of a body of water and towering cliff in this horizontal landscape painting. The couple on horseback is in the lower left quadrant of the composition, and they both have pale, peach-toned skin. The man’s silvery-white horse pulls its head down and back toward its front legs, mouth open. The man sits with one hand holding the reins and the other planted on his hip, palm facing out. He wears a white cloth tied around his neck, a tan-colored jacket, loose, nickel-gray pants, knee-high brown boots, and a wide-brimmed, peanut-brown hat with plumes of mauve-purple feathers. The man has shoulder-length, dark, curly hair and a goatee. A curved horn hangs from a strap looping across his torso, and a scarlet-red cloth is bunched over the saddle. Behind the white horse, the woman’s brown horse faces us. The woman wears a dark yellow dress with white sleeves and a white cloth along the neckline. Her hair is loose under a wide-brimmed, brown hat with dark yellow and white feathers. A falcon perches on her glove-covered hand. The mounted man talks to another man who stands next to the white horse. That man also has peach-toned skin, holds a lance, and wears a dark, royal-purple coat. A clean-shaven, pale-skinned young man sits and hunches toward two dogs at his feet in the lower left corner of the picture. Two more men wearing long robes stand a short distance away behind the boy. One has their back to us and the other, facing us, has dark brown skin and wears a turban. He holds one hand out, palm up. The person on this side sits in a boat near the left edge of the painting, looking off in that direction. He has dark, peach-colored skin and also wears a turban and robe. Six dogs spaced across the picture from the left edge to the mounted couple have brown or black fur with white spots. In the lower right corner of the composition, a person wearing tattered brown and red clothes sits facing away from us next to a cow and two sheep, all of whom lie down. The cow looks in our direction, head held low. Three goats mill about, and two sheep lie in a pile by the water’s edge as two men coax another goat onto a rowboat already laden with at least two cows. A two-masted sailing ship sits askance in low water to the right. A sailboat edges into the scene from the right edge, and a ship with sails unfurled sails near the cliff face to the right. That rocky outcropping comes almost halfway across the picture and is painted in tones of earthy brown and marine blue. Blocky structures along the top of the outcropping are hazy in the distance. The body of water stretches back to the horizon, where there are more outcroppings on the right and a church tower on the left. Mounds of white, puffy clouds against a vivid blue sky fill the top three-quarters of the composition behind the rock formations.
Nicolaes Pietersz Berchem, View of an Italian Port, early 1660s, oil on canvas, Gift of Robert H. and Clarice Smith, in Honor of the 50th Anniversary of the National Gallery of Art, 1990.62.1

View of an Italian Port

Nicolaes Pietersz Berchem · early 1660s · oil on canvas ·  Accession ID  1990.62.1

The image depicts a landscape from a slightly elevated point of view. The horizon line is high, showing rolling hills and an old structure on a hill to the left. Figures in rustic clothing tend to a flock of sheep amidst rocky terrain and lush greenery. Trees of varying heights and a waterfall in the middle add depth and movement to the scene. The color palette consists of soft earthy tones with a clear, pale blue sky and wispy clouds. The brushwork is skillful and blends elements seamlessly.
Jean-Baptiste Pillement, Shepherds Resting by a Stream, 1779, gouache and pastel on prepared canvas, Robert H. and Clarice Smith Fund, 1983.72.1

Shepherds Resting by a Stream

Jean-Baptiste Pillement · 1779 · gouache and pastel on prepared canvas ·  Accession ID  1983.72.1

The sculpture depicts a mythical creature resembling a lion with a long, flowing tail that spirals above its back. The creature appears to be in a playful or possibly aggressive posture, with its mouth open and teeth visible. It has detailed features, including a mane that is intricately carved and its body is muscular and powerful. The sculpture is made of bronze, giving it a dark brown color with lighter golden-brown highlights. The material is smooth, with some areas where the texture of the mane and fur is accentuated. The sculpture's size is relatively small in the image, suggesting it could be a decorative or functional object. The overall appearance is dynamic, lending the sculpture a sense of movement.
North Italian 16th Century, Oil Lamp in the Form of a Monster, mid 16th century, bronze, Gift of Robert H. Smith/Robert H. Smith Collection, 2022.181.7

Oil Lamp in the Form of a Monster

North Italian 16th Century · mid 16th century · bronze ·  Accession ID  2022.181.7

The sculpture depicts a classical warrior female figure wearing a helmet with a crest. She is dressed in armor and holds a shield in her left hand. Her right arm is raised, and she stands barefoot on a circular base. She holds a spear in her right hand. The figure's stance suggests movement or readiness, and her overall appearance conveys strength and classical antiquity.
Alessandro Vittoria, Minerva, c. 1560, bronze, Gift of Robert H. Smith/Robert H. Smith Collection, 2022.181.15

Minerva

Alessandro Vittoria · c. 1560 · bronze ·  Accession ID  2022.181.15

The image displays a detailed cityscape from an elevated viewpoint, showcasing intricate architecture and a bustling urban scene. The artwork features fine brushwork with sepia tones, depicting groups of people engaging in activities within the city environment, surrounded by architectural landmarks and natural elements.
David Vinckboons, Venetian Party in a Chateau Garden, c. 1602, pen and brown ink, brown and gray wash, heightened with white on two sheets of paper joined vertically; incised for transfer; laid down, Gift of Robert H. and Clarice Smith, 1986.76.1

Venetian Party in a Chateau Garden

David Vinckboons · c. 1602 · pen and brown ink, brown and gray wash, heightened with white on two sheets of paper joined vertically; incised for transfer; laid down ·  Accession ID  1986.76.1

The sculpture depicts a seated nude male figure balancing on a tree stump. He is hunched forward, focused on his left foot, appearing to be removing a thorn. His posture is relaxed yet concentrated, with his right leg crossed over his left knee. The sculpture is crafted from dark bronze, giving it a shiny, reflective finish that accentuates the figure's musculature and curly hair on his head. The texture of the sculpture is smooth, with naturalistic detailing in the figure's body and the tree stump's surface, adding realistic depth.
Severo da Ravenna, Spinario, first quarter 16th century, bronze, Gift of Robert H. Smith/Robert H. Smith Collection, 2022.181.12

Spinario

Severo da Ravenna · first quarter 16th century · bronze ·  Accession ID  2022.181.12

The image depicts a scene within a circular frame. It shows a group of four people, each a full-body depiction. To the left, a man and woman are standing. The woman wears an ornate dress and a cape, while the man wears a large hat and a long coat. He has his hand around her waist and his other hand gesturing. In the center, a bearded man is seated with his legs crossed and slightly reclined, wearing a detailed buttoned robe. He holds a viewing device to his eye, and a caped attendant behind him carefully affixes a headpiece. They are in an opulent interior with decorated arches and columns in the background. To the right, a globe and stack of books rest on a table beside the seated man's chair. The background within the circular frame is richly adorned with architectural elements and drapery. Latin script surrounds the edge of the circle.
Crispijn van de Passe I, Crispijn van de Passe I, LXX: Seventy Years, c. 1599, engraving on laid paper, Gift of Robert H. and Clarice Smith, 2022.181.88

LXX: Seventy Years

Crispijn van de Passe I, Crispijn van de Passe I · c. 1599 · engraving on laid paper ·  Accession ID  2022.181.88