Rocky, Wooded Landscape with a Dell and Weir (c.1782-1783)

Gainsborough, Thomas (1727-1788)

Rocky, Wooded Landscape with a Dell and Weir
c.17821783
Oil on canvas, 70.5 x 91 cm
Cleveland Museum of ArtCleveland

Gainsborough collected and was inspired by Dutch landscape painting. In a sketchy manner, Gainsborough convincingly singled out the various elements comprising this sweeping landscape—meadow, rocks, trees—by only slightly varying colors and brushstrokes. At the same time, however, a great sense of unity prevails. Although the bulk of Gainsborough‘s artistic output was portraits, he insisted that landscape was his first love. (CMA)