Landscape near Varenna, Italy 19th-20th century

Curator: Denman Waldo Ross’s “Landscape near Varenna, Italy” captures a hillside village with watercolor on paper. It’s quite small, about 22 by 29 centimeters. Editor: It feels like a fleeting moment, doesn't it? The way the colors bleed together, like a memory struggling to stay vivid. There's such a freshness to it. Curator: The quick, loose brushstrokes suggest it was likely painted en plein air, reflecting the rise of that practice and the availability of portable painting supplies. Editor: Absolutely! And the way the church tower punctuates the landscape. It is like the artist's soul reaching toward something higher, amidst all the earthly beauty. Curator: Or, perhaps, the church tower signifies the socio-political influence the church had on the community and the work the inhabitants performed daily. Editor: Well, perhaps! Either way, it’s got my attention. I’d love to know more about Ross’s time in Varenna, his inspiration. Curator: Indeed, it's a small painting that speaks volumes about the artist’s process and the broader art market of the time. Editor: It leaves one contemplating both the seen and unseen aspects of the Italian landscape.