Chinese
Landscape, mid 19th century
Soapstone painted in sepia, 57.8 x 40.6 cm (22 3/4 x 16 in.)
This rectangular, vertical, and monochromatic piece is dominated in the center by a large leafy tree. Two human figures painted with loose brushstrokes are standing to the left under the tree. These figures and the leafy tree seem to be positioned on a natural oval-shaped promontory which has a small bridge leading from its tip to the left edge of the painting. There is shrubbery painted in the lower left. Another tree, with bare branches, grows at the edge of the promontory on the right, standing next to the larger leafy tree. There are a few clouds in the sky along with two birds. A thin brown frame surrounds the piece.
Macknight Room
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.