Under the Bridge of Hampton Court

Painted in 1874 and held at the Winterthur Museum of Art, this canvas shows the view under the bridge at Hampton Court — made during Sisley's visit to England, his country of birth. Though he was born in Paris to English parents, Sisley was English by nationality throughout his life and visited England on several occasions. Hampton Court, the Tudor royal palace with its bridge over the Thames, gave him a subject that combined historic English architecture with his characteristic interest in water, sky, and light. This canvas belongs to a celebrated group of English works made in 1874 that are among his most admired, showing his mature Impressionist technique applied to a specifically English setting.

Sisley's characteristic cool palette and attention to sky reflection in water are fully evident here. The bridge's arches frame the view, with the Thames carrying pale reflections of the stone above. His brushwork is fluid and atmospheric, with horizontal strokes for the water surface and varied, lighter marks for the luminous sky that dominates the upper half.