Artwork Page for The Little Park

Details / Information for The Little Park

The Little Park

c. 1763

Jean-Honoré Fragonard

(French, 1732–1806)
Culture
France, 18th century
Medium
etching
Support
Laid paper
Measurements
Sheet: 14.4 x 21.8 cm (5 11/16 x 8 9/16 in.); Platemark: 11.2 x 16.5 cm (4 7/16 x 6 1/2 in.)
Credit Line
Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund 2013.20
Catalogue raisonné
Wildenstein 2
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
Not on view
Print

Description

One of Fragonard’s earliest etchings, this picturesque view of an imaginary terraced Italian garden is perhaps inspired by memories of the grounds at the Villa d’Este in Tivoli, where he spent time in 1760. Fragonard’s spontaneously scribbled, willowy lines and his choice of black-gray ink give the etching a silvery quality that evokes the hazy atmosphere of hot Italian summers. Beneath the sun-dappled foliage, between the lion statues, a young woman encounters a youth resting on the steps.
A horizontally oriented print in black ink with fine, hatched lines depicts a dense, wooded garden. Billowing masses of trees frame a central monument with a statue flanked by low walls. To the right, a small figure sits near a reclining lion statue. Dense shrubbery fills the foreground, while fine strokes in the cloudy sky guide the eye toward the monument nestled in the garden's center.

The Little Park

c. 1763

Jean-Honoré Fragonard

(French, 1732–1806)
France, 18th century

See Also

Visually Similar by AI

Contact Us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please fill out the appropriate request form linked below:

Update or Correct Artwork Information

Imagery or Rights for Non-Open-Access Artworks

Report a Website Issue

Further Questions About This Artwork