Woodland River with a Boat

c. 1590

Agostino Carracci

Associated Names
Agostino Carracci

Artist, Bolognese, 1557 - 1602

The image depicts a serene landscape with a small boat on the water. The viewpoint is at eye level, providing a balanced view of the environment. The horizon is subtly suggested above the central area, where water and vegetation recede into the distance. The drawing style features delicate lines creating textures for foliage and water ripples, typical of pen and ink work. The color palette is mainly warm sepia tones, giving an aged appearance. Trees and shrubs in the foreground are intricately detailed, with a small boat carrying figures on the water. In the background, more vegetation is subtly drawn, suggesting depth and continuity of the landscape.

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Artwork overview

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Pierre-Jean Mariette (Lugt 1852); Samuel Woodburn; Sir Thomas Lawrence; Samuel Woodburn; Lord Francis Egerton, 1st Earl of Ellesmere (Lugt 2710b), and by descent (sale, Sotheby's, London, 11 July 1972, no 38); purchased by Edward Speelman, Ltd; Robert H. and Clarice Smith; gift to NGA, 1978.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1836

  • The Lawrence Gallery, Sixth Exhibition, Messrs. Woodburn's Gallery, London, 1836, no. 43.

1938

  • Exhibition of 17th Century Art in Europe, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 1938, no. 364.

1954

  • The Ellesmere Collection of Old Master Drawings, The Museums and Art Gallery, Leicester, 1954, no. 63 (P. A. Tomory).

1955

  • A Loan Exhibition of Drawings by the Carracci and Other Masters from the Collection of the Earl of Ellesmere, P. & D. Colnaghi, London, 1955, no. 38.

1956

  • Mostra dei Carracci. Disegni. Palazzo dell'Archiginnasio, Bologna, no. 81 (Denis Mahon).

1961

  • The Carracci, Drawings and Paintings, The Hatton Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne, 1961, no. 42.

1974

  • NGA Recent Acquisitions 1974, no. 76.

1978

  • Master Drawings from the Collection of the National Gallery of Art and Promised Gifts, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., 1978, pp. 50.

1983

  • Graphics Survey Exhibition, National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., September 1983.

1988

  • Italian Renaissance Drawings, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, 1988, no cat.

Bibliography

1971

  • Posner, Donald. Annibale Carracci, A Study in the Reform of Italian Painting around 1590. London, 1971, 2: 23, under no. 50.

1972

  • Chiarini, Marco. I disegni italiani di paesaggio dal 1600 al 1750. Treviso, 1972: XIX, 4, fig. 4.

1979

  • Shapley, Fern Rusk. Catalogue of the Italian Paintings. 2 vols. Washington, 1979: 1:120; 2:pl. 82.

1984

  • Walker, John. National Gallery of Art, Washington. Rev. ed. New York, 1984: 666, no. 1055, color repro.

Wikidata ID

Q64533476

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