| Full title | Study of Two Trees |
|---|---|
| Artist | Possibly by François Desportes |
| Artist dates | 1661 - 1743 |
| Date made | about 1700 |
| Medium and support | Oil on paper laid on cardboard |
| Dimensions | 27.1 × 40.2 cm |
| Acquisition credit | The Gere Collection, on long-term loan to the National Gallery |
| Inventory number | L859 |
| Location | Not on display |
| Image copyright | The Gere Collection, on long-term loan to the National Gallery, © Private collection 2003. Used by permission |
The attribution of this study of two intertwining tree trunks has proved very difficult and the particular site has not been identified. The present attribution to Desportes is suggested because the artist and his studio particularly valued the skilful painting of such naturalistic subjects. Desportes was known for his hunting landscapes and portraits of royal hunting dogs, but an inventory of the contents of his studio made in 1784 mentions sketches of tree trunks and plants. These would have been incorporated into the backgrounds of his paintings.
The National Gallery has endeavoured to make as many images of the collection as possible available for non-commercial use. However, an image of this painting is not available to download. This may be due to third party copyright restrictions.
If you require a license for commercial use of this image, please use the National Gallery Company's Online Picture Library or contact them using the following:
- Email: picture.library@nationalgallery.co.uk
- Telephone: +44 (0)20 7747 5994
- Fax: Fax +44 (0)20 7747 5999
