The artwork named “Millbank” was created by Charles Willson Peale in 1818. Contrary to the indicated art movement of Rococo and the genre of portrait, this image appears to be a landscape painting. Rococo is typically associated with the 18th century and is characterized by elaborate ornamentation, asymmetric designs, and pastel color palettes. However, the style of this artwork seems more aligned with the naturalistic and detailed depiction of landscape scenes, which is not typical of Rococo portraiture.
The painting depicts a serene, rural landscape, presumably the Millbank property. It features a clear sky with faint clouds and a collection of buildings that are a mix of homes and potentially farm structures. A prominent tree on the right balances the composition, while a wooden fence and pathway lead the viewer’s eye into the scene. Gentle green pastures fill the foreground, punctuated by a meandering stream and patches of shrubbery. It evokes a sense of bucolic tranquility and the simple life of rural dwellings during the time it was painted.
