Moonrise

Henri-Joseph Harpignies

1885 · Oil on canvas · European Paintings

Throughout his career, Harpignies maintained close ties with artists and friends in his native town of Valenciennes. He also had a studio in Paris and in 1883 signed a contract with the Parisian firm of Arnold and Tripp that freed him from the management and sale of his work. The present painting, inspired by a passage from the poetry of Victor Hugo, was commissioned by the artist’s dealers, who presented the canvas to the Museum in 1886. Harpignies treated the romantic theme with characteristic directness, in a style influenced by Barbizon painters.

Artist

Henri-Joseph Harpignies

Date

1885

Medium

Oil on canvas

Department

European Paintings

Credit line

Gift of Arnold and Tripp, 1886