Landscape

Art Historical Context

William Morris Hunt's *Landscape* (ca. 1852–53) captures the rustic charm of the French countryside during the artist's formative years abroad. Painted during Hunt's studies in Paris and his immersion in the Barbizon region, this intimate oil sketch on pressboard depicts a serene scene with men and dogs amid rolling hills and open fields. At just 12½ × 19½ inches, it reflects the sketch-like spontaneity of plein-air practice, influenced by the Barbizon school's emphasis on natural light and everyday rural life—a style Hunt brought back to America. Hunt (1824–1879), a leading figure in 19th-century American art, trained under Thomas Couture before embracing the direct observation of nature favored by artists like Millet and Rousseau. This work, acquired by The Metropolitan Museum of Art via the Rogers Fund in 1906, exemplifies his early experimentation with loose brushwork and earthy tones, bridging European realism with emerging American landscape traditions. The use of pressboard mounted on wood as a support highlights practical innovation for portable studies, underscoring Hunt's role in introducing modern techniques to U.S. painters. Displayed in The American Wing, it offers visitors a glimpse into the transatlantic exchanges that shaped American art before the Civil War.

About the Artist

William Morris Hunt · 1824–1879

American, Brattleboro, Vermont 1824–1879 Appledore, New Hampshire