The subject of a man frightened by a snake may have been inspired by Poussin’s painting now in the National Gallery, London. Valenciennes admired this work and singled it out for special comment in the second edition of his Eléments de Perspective Practique in 1820. However, in this painting the man and snake play a minor role in the composition. Their figures are small, relegated to the bottom right hand corner. The main focus of the picture is, instead, the landscape in which they are set. Possibly a study from nature, the artist has paid close attention to the different facets of the hillside and the light filtering through the clouds as they drift over the landscape.
- TitleLandscape with man frightened by a snake
- Object numberB.M.415
- Collection
- Creator
- Production placeFrance
- Date1817 - 1817
- Production period19th century
- School/styleFrench
- Object name
- Material
- Technique
- Dimensions
- Length: 42 cm
- Width: 33.7 cm
- Length: Frame size 46.5 cm
- Width: Frame size 39 cm