ticketsMember | Make a donation

Study of a Palm Tree (recto); Mountain Landscape (verso)

ca. 1635–40
Not on view
This rare, double-sided sheet comprises two studies by Nicolas Poussin, a founding figure of the French grand manner. It is part of a small group of surviving landscape drawings, presumably made in plein air, that offer evidence that Poussin's classicizing landscapes were based on the direct observation of nature.
On the recto is a study of a palm tree with lush foliage and rough bark. Detailed studies of individual landscape motifs are otherwise unknown in Poussin's oeuvre, though lone palm trees do occupy prominent positions in several of his paintings, where they serve to identify the setting as the Holy Land. On the verso, Poussin created an expansive landscape with a remarkable economy of means. Although the composition does not appear to be connected to an extant painting, the distant craggy peaks, the stand of trees to the right, and the tree used as a repoussoir on the left are all typical landscape elements in the artist's repertoire. Typical as well is the curving diagonal axis that leads the eye from foreground to middle ground.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Study of a Palm Tree (recto); Mountain Landscape (verso)
  • Artist: Nicolas Poussin (French, Les Andelys 1594–1665 Rome)
  • Date: ca. 1635–40
  • Medium: Pen and brown ink, over traces of black chalk (recto); pen and brown ink (verso)
  • Dimensions: 8 1/16 x 10 3/16 in. (20.5 x 25.8 cm)
  • Classification: Drawings
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Guy Wildenstein Gift and Van Day Truex and Harry G. Sperling Funds, 2002
  • Object Number: 2002.39a, b
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Scenes from the Story of Moses
Multiple artists/makers
ca. 1820–25
Study of a Group of Trees, Nicolas Poussin French, Pen and brown ink
Study of a Group of Trees
Nicolas Poussin
Claude Lorrain (Claude Gellée)
ca. 1625–50
Study of a Group of Trees, Nicolas Poussin French, Pen and brown ink
Study of a Group of Trees
Nicolas Poussin
Claude Lorrain (Claude Gellée)
ca. 1625–50
Winter, Nicolas Poussin French, Engraving
Winter
Nicolas Poussin
Jean Audran
n.d.
A Male Child Lifting his Dress to Urinate Near Kneeling Women
Nicolas Poussin
1806

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.