Forest in the Morning Light

Provenance

Possibly Jonathan Sturges [1802-1874], New York, and Fairfield, Connecticut;[1] his son, Frederick Sturges [d. 1917], New York, and Fairfield, Connecticut; his son, Frederick Sturges, Jr. [1876-1977], New York, and Fairfield, Connecticut;[2] bequest 1978 to NGA. [1] Jonathan Sturges owned a number of Durand's studies from nature (David B. Lawall, _Asher B. Durand: A Documentary Catalogue of the Narrative and Landscape Paintings_, New York, 1978, nos. 354, 384, and 411), but this painting is not listed in "Our Private Collections, No. II," _The Crayon_ 3, February 1856, 57 58, an article that discusses Sturges' paintings by Durand, nor is it mentioned in Thomas S. Cummings, _Historic Annals of the National Academy of Design (1825-1863)_, Philadelphia, 1865: 141 (reprint, New York, 1965), which records paintings by Durand in the Sturges collection, nor is it in the list of the Sturges collection in Henry T. Tuckerman, _Book of the Artists_, New York, 1867: 627 (reprint, New York, 1967); however, Frederick Sturges III was told by his father, Frederick Sturges, Jr., that all the Durands in the family collection came from Jonathan Sturges (letters dated 27 August and 7 December 1981 from Frederick Sturges III, in NGA curatorial files). The family tradition may be inaccurate, for two letters known from Frederick Sturges -- one of 16 June 1858 to Asher B. Durand (Asher B. Durand papers, New York Public Library) and the other of 22 June 1858 to John Durand (John Durand papers, New York Public Library) --indicate that he, too, purchased paintings directly from the artist. Nevertheless, in the absence of evidence indicating that Frederick Sturges acquired this painting, the possibility of ownership by Jonathan Sturges cannot be excluded. [2] Frederick Sturges, Jr., died 14 October 1977 (letter of 27 January 1982 from Frederick Sturges III in NGA curatorial files); this painting came to the National Gallery as a bequest in 1978 with four other paintings (see Durand, _A Pastoral Scene_ [1978.6.3]; Casilear, _View on Lake George_ [1978.6.1]; Edmonds, _The Bashful Cousin_ [1978.6.4]; and Kensett, _Beach at Beverly_ [1978.6.5]).

Forest in the Morning Light

Durand, Asher Brown

c. 1855

Accession Number

1978.6.2

Medium

oil on canvas

Dimensions

overall: 61.5 x 46.2 cm (24 3/16 x 18 3/16 in.)

Classification

Painting

Museum

National Gallery of Art

Washington, D.C., United States

Credit Line

Gift of Frederick Sturges, Jr.