The Muse of Painting

John La Farge (American, 1835-1910) - The Muse of Painting, 1870 (Oil on canvas. Met) - - The figure belongs to the mainstream of 19th-century ideal painting. In an odd twist, La Farge depicted the muse as an artist rather than as the inspiratrice of an artist. Her inspiration is the surrounding landscape of Newport, proving that nature is the true muse of painting. The landscape and overall composition are handled in highly decorative manner, mingling carefully observed details with dreamy, evocative colors…