Landscape with Goats

Object Details

• Artist

  John Singer Sargent (1856-1925)

• Label

  Sargent spent the autumns of 1908 and 1909 on the Mediterranean islands of Majorca and Corfu where he painted Landscape with Goats, a lively rendering of animals and rich foliage in dappled sunlight.

  The work is typical of the artist's tendancy toward unusual motifs and it demonstrates his ability to endow them with a vigor and drama. Sargent enjoyed painting landscapes such as this one for relaxation when he was on vacation and away from his taxing career as a portrait painter.

  Although once exhibited under the title Syrian Goats, the work is strikingly similar to Olives in Corfu, in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. Therefore, it is probable that Landscape with Goats was executed in Cofu. (There is no evidence that Sargent was in Corfu before 1908, making this the earliest possible date for the painting. Richard Ormond, John Singer Sargent, [New York, 1970] p. 76.) Also, Sargent's Corfu paintings primarily depict olive groves, the type of foliage shown in the Freer canvas.

• Provenance

  To 1913

  M. Knoedler & Co., New York, to 1913 [1]

  From 1913 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from M. Knoedler & Co. on June 7, 1913 [2]

  From 1920

  Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]

  Notes:

  [1] According to Provenance Note 1 in the object record. See also, Voucher No. 3, June 1913, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.

  [2] See note 1.

  [3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  A Perfect Harmony (October 14, 2017 to October 8, 2023)

  Acquired Taste (1986)

  American Paintings (September 10, 1981 to March 12, 1984)

  American Paintings (October 14, 1978 to March 18, 1981)

  American Paintings (November 11, 1976 to October 12, 1978)

  American Paintings (July 1, 1974 to December 5, 1975)

  American Paintings (September 8, 1961 to May 2, 1973)

  Centennial Exhibition, Galleries 8 and 9 (February 25, 1956 to April 28, 1958)

  Untitled Exhibition, American Oil Paintings (May 1, 1933 to February 6, 1944)

  American Paintings by Metcalf, Thayer, and Twatchman (March 23, 1925 to May 5, 1933)

  American Paintings, Miscellaneous (May 2, 1923 to March 23, 1925)

• Previous custodian or owner

  M. Knoedler & Co. (1846-2011) (C.L. Freer source)

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

• Origin

  United States

• Credit Line

  Gift of Charles Lang Freer

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1910s, 1900s

• Name

  Knoedler, Freer, Charles Lang

• Place

  United States

• Topic

  Charles Lang Freer collection, Landscapes, Art, American Art, Goat

• Culture

  Americans

• Object Type

  Paintings