"The Country Road"

Dateca. 1860

MediumOil on paper

Dimensions10" x 14" unframed; 11 1/2" x 15 1/2" framed.

Credit LineGift of Abby Aldrich Rockefeller

Object number1931.102.3

DescriptionCountry road wandering up from lower right corner to distance in middle distance left behind a white house, some red barns, and a yellowish brown building. The road appears to be dirt, with two faint wagon tracks on it. To the far side of the road to the right is a white picket fence which joins with a stone wall, and a line of trees is on the far side. The fence leads one's eye back into the distance to a graveyard and a small white church which is surrounded by a stone fence. There is a large white tombstone or monument surrounded by a black iron fence in the graveyard. The building to the far left is raised up on stone foundations and has clapboard sides, and a grey drain pipe. Steps lead up to the front door from the side and there are two windows.
Label TextThis is a simple rural scene showing a dirt road with wagon tracks on it winding past a clapboard house with a grey drainpipe to divert water from the front door. The road eventually leads to a meetinghouse standing in the middle of a graveyard. The cemetery is surrounded by what appears to be a wrought iron fence.

It has been suggested that because of the composition of the scene, that perhaps this painting was done from life, rather then taken from a print which was engraved, for a specific reason, either to show a location, a beautiful spot, or idealized scenery.
ProvenanceEdith Gregor Halpert, Downtown Gallery, New York, NY; bought from Halpert December 24, 1931, by Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, by whom given to CWF.