Paintings, Drawings, Sculpture

atmosphere and perfectly balanced composition, with framing tree at left, sparkling river at center, and gently rising hills at right. Corot’s palette is equally harmonious, consisting primarily of sun-bleached browns, greens, and grays; the only spot of color is the carnelian cap of the rider. The first owner of the work, Narcisse Berchère, was an Orientalist painter whose landscapes recorded his travels throughout Greece, Egypt and Asia Minor; he is perhaps most famous for his paintings documenting the construction of the Suez Canal. Foinard was an art dealer in Paris around the turn of the century and an avid collector of Corot. He owned a total of twelve works by the artist, including our oil sketch.