An artwork on Galleree from Cleveland Museum of Art.
About the artwork
Farmhouse on the Slope of a Hillc. 1508
Fra Bartolommeo
This is a significant early example of pure landscape drawing in Europe, as it is dedicated completely to the depiction of nature for its own sake, without suggestion of a biblical or historical narrative. The rapidity and regularity of strokes used for the evergreen and deciduous trees and the sweeping lines in the foreground suggest that the landscape in <em>Farmhouse on the Slope of a Hill </em>was made directly from nature. The sheet comes from an album of 41 landscape studies by Fra Bartolommeo assembled by an eighteenth-century collector and disbound for sale in the mid-20th century. A member of the Dominican Order, Fra Bartolomeo likely produced these drawings during his travels in and around Florence, often to Dominican establishments.
The artist who made this drawing, Fra (brother) Bartolommeo, left his successful Florentine artistic studio in 1500 and renounced painting in order to join the Dominican Order.
pen and brown ink
Sheet: 22.3 x 29.4 cm (8 3/4 x 11 9/16 in.); Secondary Support: 27.5 x 41.2 cm (10 13/16 x 16 1/4 in.)
Gift of the Hanna Fund, Purchase, Dudley P. Allen Fund, Delia E. Holden Fund and L. E. Holden Fund
In a moment of serenity, deep within the heart of early European artistry, lies a captivating piece known as *Farmhouse on the Slope of a Hill*. This artwork stands as a significant beacon of pure landscape drawing, a time when the canvas began to speak solely of nature and its wonders, devoid of any biblical or historical storytelling.
Imagine a gentle breeze rustling through the leaves of towering evergreen and deciduous trees. The strokes on the paper are swift and regular, echoing the rhythm of life outside, as if the artist has captured a fleeting moment directly from nature's hand. The sweeping lines of the foreground draw the eye toward the embrace of the earth, suggesting that every detail has been tenderly observed and lovingly rendered.
This exquisite drawing comes from a treasured album containing a collection of 41 landscape studies crafted by the artist Fra Bartolommeo. An 18th-century collector, captivated by these scenes of tranquility, once held the album close, only to disband it years later for the art-loving public to cherish. It is easy to envision the artist, a devoted member of the Dominican Order, as he wandered the idyllic landscapes around Florence. Each stroke of his hand could be imagined as a journey, each essence of nature becoming a part of his spiritual exploration, especially as he often ventured to Dominican establishments during his travels.
As we reflect on this artwork, we sense the profound connection between artist and nature. It whispers stories of the past—a tender reminder of how art and the natural world intertwine, resonating within the hearts of those who seek solace in its beauty.
About the artist
Creating transformative experiences through art “for the benefit of all the people forever.”The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 66,500 artworks and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. The artworks shared on this platform are sourced from the museum's Open Access data under the CC0 license. No endorsement is implied.Address: 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH, USA 44106
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