The Santa Barbara Museum of Art announced today that it would receive its first painting by French artist Theodore Rousseau upon the retirement of art director Phillip Johnston. The 38” by 52” painting comes from the personal collection of museum trustee and longtime supporter Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree, who is donating in honor of Johnston’s service. The Rousseau, Vallee de Saint-Ferjeux, Doubs, depicts a French landscape and was painted sometime between 1860 and 1862. Rousseau is famous for having founded the Barbizon School of painting in 1830, which emphasized a realistic depiction of nature and people.
The statement from the museum indicated that museum-goers would soon be able to see the painting, but did not specify when.