Shepherd seated under a Tree

Shepherd seated under a Tree
Shepherd seated under a Tree
Shepherd seated under a Tree
Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
title=Credit line
Artist
Richard Wilson (1713/14-1782)
Title
Shepherd seated under a Tree
Date
c.1753 (undated)
Medium
Brown and white chalk and stump on medium, rough-textured, blue laid paper mounted on thick, cream laid paper of moderate texture
Dimensions
Metric: 402 x 251 mm
Imperial: 15 15/16 x 9 7/8 in.
Accession Number
B1977.14.4163
Wilson Online Reference
D216
Exhibited
National Gallery of Art, Washington DC., 1962, English Drawings and Water Colors from the Collection of Mr and Mrs Paul Mellon (99); Richmond 1963 (56); Yale Center for British Art 1977, 50 Beautiful Drawings (10)
Provenance
Sir Malcolm D. Eccles; P.& D. Colnaghi & Co. Ltd, March 1961; bt Paul Mellon; passed to the Yale Center for British Art 1977
Signature/inscription
Unsigned, no inscription
Mount inscriptions
[1] Modern pencil: 432 & A22962 FX
Critical commentary
Probably drawn on the spot. By adding the little figure of the shepherd Wilson gives the scene a pastoral touch and a sense of scale, emphasising its duel roles as not only a study after nature but also a nascent classical composition.
Previous Cat/Ref Nos
Object ID: 13881
Bibliography
Taylor 1963, cat. 56; Yale Selected Paintings 1977, p. 54, repr.
Condition/Conservation
Dimensions mounted: 457 x 305 mm (18 x 12 in.)
Updated by Compiler
2017-12-14 00:00:00