Tickets
English
DonateMembershipTickets

Passing off of the Storm

1872
Not on view
Kensett was a founder of The Met and a member of its executive committee until his early death. Soon after, his brother, Thomas, donated thirty-eight of the artist’s paintings known as his “Last Summer’s Work” as a testament to “the great interest my late brother had in the success of your Institution.” For this composition Kensett selected a spare, panoramic format inspired by his view from Contentment Island, near his home in Darien, Connecticut. Atmospheric bands of clouds, sky, and water are interrupted by subtle brushstrokes representing slanting reeds or markers, a tiny island, several sailboats, a rowboat, reflections, and what appears to be a white wave on the water’s otherwise placid surface. The painting’s title affirms that the ominous-looking weather is “passing off” rather than approaching.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Passing off of the Storm
  • Artist: John Frederick Kensett (American, Cheshire, Connecticut 1816–1872 New York)
  • Date: 1872
  • Culture: American
  • Medium: Oil on canvas
  • Dimensions: 11 3/8 x 24 1/2 in. (28.9 x 62.2 cm)
  • Credit Line: Gift of Thomas Kensett, 1874
  • Object Number: 74.27
  • Curatorial Department: The American Wing

More Artwork

More Artwork
Lake George, John Frederick Kensett American, Oil on canvas, American
Lake George
John Frederick Kensett
1869
Powder Horn, Horn (cow), lead, American
Powder Horn
American
18th century
Flight Into Egypt, Henry Ossawa Tanner American, Oil on canvas, American
Flight Into Egypt
Henry Ossawa Tanner
1923
Sunset on the Sea, John Frederick Kensett American, Oil on canvas, American
Sunset on the Sea
John Frederick Kensett
1872
Window Seat, D. Phyfe & Son American, Rosewood veneer; pine, yellow poplar (secondary woods); reproduction upholstery with original upholstery foundation, American
Window Seat
D. Phyfe & Son
1841

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries and chronologies from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.

Send feedback

Content Notice

The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world, and our online collection reflects ongoing work conducted over the course of our more than 150-year history. You may encounter objects or images that may be inappropriate for some viewers or information that may be outdated.