Interior of a Barn, c. 1837
William Henry Huntexpand_more
Watercolor, gouache, and scraping out over graphite on paperexpand_more
The Putnam Dana McMillan Fund and the William Hood Dunwoody Fundexpand_more 98.42
Not on Viewexpand_more
This highly finished watercolor, one of William Henry Hunt’s largest, is technically astounding. At the International Exhibition of 1862 in London, it was an attraction that, according to one critic, “astonished our foreign visitors.”
The setting is a barn owned by Hunt’s father-in-law, a farmer and miller, in Hampshire, England. Hunt achieved a jewellike texture and brilliant luminosity through his complicated technique of stippling transparent colors over a ground of opaque white gouache. This effect is particularly evident in the golden straw and two grain sacks. Also noteworthy is the range of browns discernible in the shadows of the barn.
Details
- Title
- Interior of a Barn
- Artist Life
- 1790-1864
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 98.42
- Provenance
- Mr. Griffith (until 1859). John Mayor Threlfall, Manchester (by 1862-d. 1864; his sale, Christie's, London, May 13, 1864, no. 66, for £220.10 to Agnew); [Agnew, London, from 1864]. Dr. Sharpe (until 1873). Holbrook Gaskell, Woolton, Lancashire (by 1877-d. 1909; his sale, Christie's, London, June 24-25, 1909, no. 205, for 50 gns. to Agnew for F. Gaskell); Frank Gaskell, Codsall Wood, Staffordshire (1909-d. 1937); his sons, Ernest and Roger Gaskell, Codsall Wood, Staffordshire (1937-at least 1951); Joan Stuart (Mrs. Ernest) Gaskell (before 1997; her estate sale, Sotheby's, London, April 10, 1997, no. 113); [Spink-Leger Pictures, London, 1997-98]; sold to MIA, 1998.
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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