Across the Campagna

1872

Not on view

While living and working in Italy from 1870 to 1874, Inness received a salary from his Boston dealers in exchange for creating paintings that could be sold in the United States. He used watercolor to experiment with ideas and compositions for his oil paintings. In this evocative view of the Campagna south of Rome, Inness avoided familiar landmarks, creating a nearly abstract composition with a lush foreground and pale sky. Along the horizon, characteristic umbrella pine trees and farmhouses divide the sky from the earth and provide a sense of space and scale. A visit to the Campagna was an essential part of the Grand Tour—an extended educational trip through Europe that culminated in Rome, usually undertaken by members of the elite class. The Campagna became a popular subject for artists who were attracted to its pastoral beauty and for tourists who sought records of their tour.

Artwork Details

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Title: Across the Campagna
Artist: George Inness (American, Newburgh, New York 1825–1894 Bridge of Allan, Scotland)
Date: 1872
Culture: American
Medium: Watercolor, gouache, and graphite on off-white wove paper
Dimensions: 6 13/16 x 10 5/16 in. (17.3 x 26.2 cm)
Credit Line: Bequest of Susan Dwight Bliss, 1966
Object Number: 67.55.145
Curatorial Department: The American Wing

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View on the Delaware: "Water Gap" in the Distance

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