Study for "Faith" and "Hope"

c. 1890

John La Farge

Associated Names
John La Farge

Artist, American, 1835 - 1910

The image features two full-length figures depicted in a watercolor style. The person on the left is standing with one arm raised, looking upward, with light brown hair framing a face that is slightly turned. They are dressed in a flowing garment with a green robe underneath and a rose or pink cloak over it, draped down their arm. The figure beside them, on the right, has their head slightly bowed with one hand on their chest. This person has long hair and their face is partly obscured by a hooded cloak that is light blue with a green lining. The clothing of both figures appears to be loose and flowing. The background is a blend of dark colors with a hint of cloudy or ethereal form in soft blues and purples.

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

    transparent and opaque watercolor over graphite on illustration board

  • Credit Line

    Corcoran Collection (Bequest of James Parmelee)

  • Dimensions

    image: 24.61 × 16.35 cm (9 11/16 × 6 7/16 in.)
    board: 37.47 × 28.73 cm (14 3/4 × 11 5/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2015.19.506

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

James Parmelee, Washington, DC; Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, 1941; acquired 2015 by the National Gallery of Art

Associated Names

Exhibition History

2025

  • The Dance of Life: Figure and Imagination in American Art, 1876-1917, Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, 2024-2025, p. 116, cat. 36, 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. 76, no. 477.

2024

  • Mitchell, Mark DeSaussure.The Dance of Life: Figure and Imagination in American Art, 1876-1917. Exh cat. Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, 2024: cat. 36, 116, color repro.

Inscriptions

lower left in white gouache: La Farge; lower right margin in graphite by unknown hand: [not deciphered]; upper center verso in black crayon: Ret. John La Farge / 51 W. 10th St. / N.Y.; center verso in graphite by unknown hand: #4 / Packard window / Buffalo-

Markings

None

Watermarks

None

Wikidata ID

Q64582830

You may be interested in

Loading Results