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Style of Gustave Courbet, 'The Pool', probably 1870-80

About the work

Overview

In July 1873 Courbet fled France for Switzerland and settled in the town of La Tour-de-Peilz on the north shore of Lac Léman (Lake Geneva), near the French border. A label on the back of this view of a lush Alpine valley gives the location as Vevey, on the north shore of the lake and close to La Tour-de-Peilz. It has also been suggested that the view may be in the upper part of the Gorges de Chauderon, above Montreux, which is further east along the shore.

Although Courbet painted a number of views of the lake and its surroundings, he did not paint this picture. It was instead painted by an assistant, not as a copy of a Courbet but as an independent picture that belongs to a substantial group of Swiss landscapes painted in the style of Courbet. Although it is sometimes possible to identify the assistant who produced a painting, it is not yet possible in this case.

Key facts

Details

Full title
The Pool
Artist
Style of Gustave Courbet
Artist dates
1819 - 1877
Date made
probably 1870-80
Medium and support
oil on canvas
Dimensions
72.4 × 58.7 cm
Inscription summary
Signed
Acquisition credit
Sir Hugh Lane Bequest, 1917, The National Gallery, London. In partnership with Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin.
Inventory number
NG3243
Location
On loan: Long Loan to The Hugh Lane (2019 - 2031), Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane, Dublin, Ireland
Collection
Main Collection

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.

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