An artwork on Galleree from Minneapolis Institute of Art.
About the artwork
The Grand Staircase of the Villa d'Este at Tivoli1760
Artist: Jean-Honoré Fragonard
French, 1732–1806
stairway around a fountain in a garden; tall trees at L; 2 sculptures at overlook at top of stairs at center; figures at LLC and at overlook
32 1/4 x 41 1/4 in. (81.92 x 104.78 cm) (sight)
44 1/2 x 53 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (113.03 x 135.89 x 8.89 cm) (outer frame)
Oil on canvas
Painting
France
18th century
Gift of Daniel T. and Helen E. Lindsay
In the heart of Italy, with the sun casting shimmering rays over verdant landscapes, the talented French painter Jean-Honoré Fragonard found himself embraced by the enchanting beauty of Tivoli. Nestled within the dramatic gardens of the Villa d’Este—its terraces cascading with fountains and flowers—Fragonard spent one glorious summer, generously gifted by his patron, the Abbé de Saint-Non. For five pivotal years, he wandered through the lush scenes of Italy, but this summer would leave an indelible mark on his artistic spirit.
Picture a warm, vibrant day, the air sweet with the scent of blooming blossoms and the gentle hum of nature surrounding him. Artists throughout history had trekked to this exquisite spot, twenty miles from the grandeur of Rome, drawn by its picturesque allure. Fragonard joined their ranks, sketching red-chalk studies en plein air, letting the environment speak to him. Each stroke on paper captured the essence of the landscape that stirred his imagination.
As he paused to take in the gathering clouds, a cool mist wafted from the iconic Fountain of the Dragon. It offered refreshing relief from the heavy summer heat, its waters sparkling like jewels in the sunlight. The shade of the lush cypresses provided comfort, cradling him in nature’s embrace as he observed the play of light and shade, the dance of color around him.
Back in his studio in Rome, Fragonard channeled the vibrancy of that summer day into a painting, a piece inspired by the sketches birthed from his time at the Villa. Each brushstroke echoed the serenity he felt, capturing that whimsical moment where nature met his creative spirit.
In the swift tide of recognition, the painting caught the eye of Charles-Joseph Natoire, the director of the French Academy in Rome. Natoire, a fervent advocate for the landscape genre, immediately acquired the work, recognizing in it the merest whisper of the beauty found in the gardens of Tivoli—a blend of nature and artistry that would resonate for generations to come.
In this tranquil narrative, Fragonard’s journey unfolds, a reminder of how the world around us nurtures and inspires the stories we create.
About the artist
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