PAINTINGS
Diaz de la Peña, Narcisse-Virgilio
France (1807 - 1876)
Village Twilight
Oil on wood panel
8 x 15 1/2 in. (20.3 x 39.4 cm) board size; 17 1/4 x 25 x 3 3/4 in. (43.8 x 63.5 x 9.5 cm) frame size
Horace C. Henry Collection
FA 26.45

Horace Henry purchased this painting along with several others at the Paris Salon in 1911 after he had learned enough about American landscape painting to understand the important influence of Barbizon and Impressionist painting on American artists. Americans considered it a requirement to study, or at least travel, in Europe, and those who went there during the 19th century were very much taken with painting en plein air, or outdoors, and experimenting with light, color and brushstroke.

De la Pena was born in Spain but painted in France as a member of the Barbizon group of artists. Usually working in a smaller format, he painted outside using a subdued palette, dramatic lighting, and rich color. His work influenced younger artists including Auguste Renoir and Camille Pissarro.

-- Label copy for Unpacking the Collection: Collecting at the Beginning of the Century: The Horace C. Henry Collection, April 10 to May 15, 1997, and October 10, 1997, to June 14, 1998.