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This is a painting depicting a portion of a grand, classical-style white building with ornate columns and decorative elements such as carved reliefs and intricate railings. The painting focuses on the upper section of the building, which features an elaborately adorned window or balcony in front of a large brown door. The portion of the building takes up the left side of the painting, while the right side shows a sky painted in soft blue, with sections of the blank off-white paper suggesting clouds.
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This is a painting depicting a portion of a grand, classical-style white building with ornate columns and decorative elements such as carved reliefs and intricate railings. The painting focuses on the upper section of the building, which features an elaborately adorned window or balcony in front of a large brown door. The portion of the building takes up the left side of the painting, while the right side shows a sky painted in soft blue, with sections of the blank off-white paper suggesting clouds.

National Gallery of Art · Drawing

A Corner of the Library in Venice

John Singer Sargent

Date
1904/1907
Medium
watercolor over graphite, with white gouache on thick wove paper
Dimensions
overall: 58.2 × 46.2 cm (22 15/16 × 18 3/16 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Accession number
1970.17.172
Credit line
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Collection
Time span
1901 to 1925
Department
CG-W
Original NGA record Wikidata

Subjects and terms

  • American
  • exterior
  • architecture
  • Impressionist
  • Venice
  • Library
Provenance

the aritst's sale, Christie's London, 24 July 1925, 11; (M. Knoedler & Co., New York); acquired 1954 by Ailsa Mellon Bruce [1901-1969]; bequest to National Gallery of Art

NGA object ID 52316. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.