The Pride of the Village

Henry Peters Gray

1858–59 · Oil on canvas · The American Wing

This picture, based on Washington Irving’s sentimental story of the same name, concerns a beautiful and simple country lass, indeed the pride of the village, who fell in love with an army officer. When he was transferred to another post and asked that she accompany him, her virtuous mind was so stricken by this indecorous suggestion that she pined away, surrounded by her devoted family. Here we see her in her decline, possibly “thinking of her faithless lover?—or were her thoughts wandering to that distant churchyard, into whose bosom she might soon be gathered?”

Artist

Henry Peters Gray

Date

1858–59

Medium

Oil on canvas

Culture

American

Department

The American Wing

Credit line

Gift of William Church Osborn, 1949