Study of Clouds over the Roman Campagna

51: Study of Clouds over the Roman Campagna

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Pierre-Henri de Valenciennes
Toulouse 1750 - 1819 Paris

1997.23.1: National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Rights held by: National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., given in honour of Gaillard F. Ravenel II by his friends

After returning from his Italian sojourns (1769, 1777–1781 and 1782–1785), Valenciennes was made a member of the Academy in 1787; opened his own studio; was named professor of perspective at the École des Beaux-Arts, Paris, in 1812; and was responsible for creating the Prix de Rome for historical landscape painting in 1816. An encounter with marine painter Claude-Joseph Vernet is thought to have transformed his approach to landscape painting. Published in 1799/1800, his influential treatise on landscape, which emphasized direct observation from nature, is considered a cornerstone of modern landscape painting.

Text written and researched by Michelle Bird National Gallery of Art, Washington DC.

Oil on paper, mounted on cardboard
19.6 x 33 cm

Created: Circa 1782 - 1785

Section: Skies and Effects

This can be found in Gallery 13: Mellon Gallery Exhibitions