A Party Picnicking Near a Village

Description

Louis Nicolas van Blarenberghe was known for drawings such as this one, which were executed on a small scale with exacting detail. His designs attracted the attention of the French monarchy, and he received numerous royal commissions. This work shows well-dressed figures enjoying outdoor leisure in a rural village. Its panoramic landscape and dense crowd were both characteristic of Van Blarenberghe’s miniaturist style.

Provenance

Christie's Manson & Woods, London, England (December 9, 1975); Mr. Noah L. Butkin [1918-1980] (1975-1980); Mrs. Muriel Butkin [1915-2008] (1980-2008); the Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (March 4, 2019)

A Party Picnicking Near a Village

Louis Nicolas van Blarenberghe

c. 1760–70

Accession Number

2019.63

Medium

gouache on antique laid paper

Dimensions

Sheet: 12.2 x 16.8 cm (4 13/16 x 6 5/8 in.)

Classification

Drawing

Museum

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Cleveland, United States

Credit Line

Bequest of Muriel Butkin