Adolphe Monticelli, 'Sunrise', about 1882-4
About the work
Overview
A bright yellow sun rises in the centre of the picture, beside a tree. Its vibrant colour stands out against the rest of the composition, which is darker in tone than its companion piece, Sunset, also in the National Gallery’s collection.
Both Cezanne and Van Gogh were admirers of Monticelli’s use of impasto (thickly applied paint), and the directional brushstrokes in his later work. This painting, which is typical of Monticelli’s late style, appears to have been painted outdoors. Cezanne and Monticelli were very good friends during the 1880s, and they often used to go off together to paint in the open air. It was perhaps during one of these outdoor sessions that Monticelli painted Sunrise, which is usually dated to about 1882–4.
Key facts
Details
- Full title
- Sunrise
- Artist
- Adolphe Monticelli
- Artist dates
- 1824 - 1886
- Date made
- about 1882-4
- Medium and support
- oil on wood
- Dimensions
- 27.9 × 41.3 cm
- Inscription summary
- Signed
- Acquisition credit
- Presented as part of the 'Harry Wearne Collection of Twelve Paintings by Monticelli' to the Tate Gallery, 1939; transferred, 1956
- Inventory number
- NG5007
- Location
- Not on display
- Collection
- Main Collection
Provenance
Additional information
Text extracted from the ‘Provenance’ section of the catalogue entry in Martin Davies, with additions and some revisions by Cecil Gould, ‘National Gallery Catalogues: French School: Early 19th Century, Impressionists, Post-Impressionists, etc.’, London 1970; for further information, see the full catalogue entry.
Bibliography
-
1957Martin Davies, National Gallery Catalogues: French School, 2nd edn (revised), London 1957
-
1970Davies, Martin, and Cecil Gould, National Gallery Catalogues: French School: Early 19th Century, Impressionists, Post-Impressionists etc., London 1970
-
2001
C. Baker and T. Henry, The National Gallery: Complete Illustrated Catalogue, London 2001
About this record
If you know more about this painting or have spotted an error, please contact us. Please note that exhibition histories are listed from 2009 onwards. Bibliographies may not be complete; more comprehensive information is available in the National Gallery Library.