Classical Landscape with Figures

Identification of the Classical Landscape

The painting titled Classical Landscape with Figures was executed by the French artist Jean-Victor Bertin. Created in 1803, this work is categorized as a painting. The artist, who was born in Paris, France, in 1767, lived until 1842.

This specific piece is rendered in oil on wood. The dimensions of the work are 36.8 x 45.7 cm. It is currently part of a collection held by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, identified by the object number 2003.42.3. The work was previously part of The Whitney Collection, which was a gift from Wheelock Whitney III and a purchase from Mr. and Mrs. Charles S. McVeigh, by exchange.

Composition and Visual Elements

The composition is structured through an ordered succession of distinct planes. The viewer's eye is led through a cleft in the trees, moving past the immediate foreground toward a distant mountainous background. This progression creates a sense of depth, with the landscape culminating in a range of mountains that recede into the horizon. An atmospheric veil of light and shade softens the distant view, blurring the sharp edges of the peaks.

Several figures are positioned throughout the scene. Some individuals stand near the trees, while others are walking along a path. An animal, likely a horse, is present among the figures, adding a sense of movement to the terrain. The arrangement of these elements follows a clear spatial logic, guiding the gaze from the shaded areas of the foreground toward the lighter, hazy elevations in the distance.

Provenance and Museum Collection

This oil on wood painting is held by The Metropolitan Museum of Art. It is identified by the object number 2003.42.3. The work is a component of The Whitney Collection. This specific acquisition was made through a gift from Wheelock Whitney III.

The provenance of the piece includes a transfer via exchange. It was a purchase and a gift from Mr. and Mrs. Charles S. McVeigh. These transactions brought the work into its current institutional setting. The physical object remains part of the museum's permanent holdings within the European Paintings department.