William Henry Barnard (England, 1767 - 1818, Stowe, England)
Summer, 1802
Mezzotint and etching hand-colored, 55.2 x 69.2 cm (21 3/4 x 27 1/4 in.)
This is a pastoral scene of grazing animals in the middle of a sylvan tranquility. It has a soft velvety surface with washes of pinks and creams, offset by areas of black. On our lower left, there is a light-skinned person in a gray coat, wearing a brimmed hat. They are resting their head on their crossed arms, sleeping. A white and gray dog is stretched out beside them. At the center, and illuminated in a bright light, are a cow and two sheep. They are atop an area of grasses that appear to be glowing. In the background, large trees bend to our right and have silvery pink leaves that float above the animals. In the background is a mist that envelops the near and far distance, as if in a dream. There is an inscription in calligraphy on the bottom margin.
Short Gallery
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.