The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of September 9, 2026

A horizontally oriented drawing with brown ink on weathered tan paper depicts a row of thatched cottages nestled among dense trees. In the middle ground, three rooflines emerge from the foliage, fronted by a low fence. Short, textured strokes define the splotchy foliage and roofs, while the lower half remains mostly empty with faint graphite marks. Small, dark initials, J.E.M, appear in the lower right corner.

Cottages

1870–71

Jean-François Millet

(French, 1814–1875)
France, 19th century
pen and brown ink and graphite
Sheet: 11.8 x 17.3 cm (4 5/8 x 6 13/16 in.)
Gift of Mrs. Lewis B. Williams 1974.233
Catalogue raisonné: Lugt 1460
Location: Not on view
  • 1871-75
    Collection of the artist, sold to Hôtel Drouet upon the artist's death
    May 10-11, 1875
    (Hôtel Drouot, Paris, France)
    ?-1975
    Helen Electa Croxton Williams [1879-1980], Cleveland Heights, OH
    February 7, 1975
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Lee, Sherman E. "The Year in Review for 1974." The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 62, no. 3 (March 1975) p. 100 no. 84, illus. p. 80. www.jstor.org
  • French Drawings from the Collection. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (December 13, 1994-March 12, 1995).
    The Graphic Art of the Barbizon School. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (March 17-May 17, 1987).
    National Schools of Style. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (June 14-September 18, 1983).
    Year in Review: 1974. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (March 11-April 6, 1975).
  • {{cite web|title=Cottages|url=false|author=Jean-François Millet|year=1870–71|access-date=09 September 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1974.233