The Gardens of Horace (Les Jardins d'Horace)

The Gardens of Horace (Les Jardins d'Horace) is a significant piece created by Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot in 1855. This delicate work is classified as a print, utilizing the unique and experimental medium of cliché-verre. This technique, popular among certain French artists during the mid-19th century, combines drawing with early photographic processes. Corot would scratch or draw directly into a sensitized glass plate coated with collodion or opaque varnish. The resulting plate was then used like a photographic negative, printed onto paper through light exposure. The resulting image retains the spontaneity and immediacy of drawing while offering the capacity for reproduction, distinguishing it from traditional etching or lithography.

Created between 1851 to 1875, this print reflects the French artistic milieu where Corot was active. Corot, a preeminent figure in the landscape tradition and associated with the Barbizon School, often explored themes connecting nature with classical antiquity, a sensibility reflected in the classical allusion of the title, which references the Roman lyric poet Horace. Corot's characteristic preference for soft, atmospheric light and his careful handling of tones translate effectively into the monochromatic medium of the cliché-verre. This process allowed Corot to achieve nuances of light and shadow reminiscent of his oil paintings, lending the work a unique and subtle textural quality distinct from other types of nineteenth-century prints.

This piece, which illustrates Corot’s commitment to technical experimentation and his pioneering role in the development of graphic art forms, is a key component of the French graphic tradition. The continued study of these early experiments offers valuable insight into the cross-pollination of art and technology during the period. This important artwork is held in the extensive collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., where it contributes to the museum’s comprehensive holdings of master The Gardens of Horace prints. As a historical work, images of this influential masterwork are often made available through public domain initiatives, ensuring its wide accessibility for academic study and appreciation alongside Corot’s other famous landscape works.