Pastorals were painted outside. That is the old meaning of the word, and it suits this room: woodlands with lanterns in the branches, koi ponds, orchards at dusk and villages where the foxgloves are taller than the doors.
The palette is green and gold, and the pace is gentle more often than not. If you are new to the collection, this is a comfortable room to begin in — the scenes are readable at a glance and the characters tend to be friendly.
Several works here sit in the collection’s ‘Newly hung’ list, so the room keeps changing.
What to look for
- Creatures that act as guides
- Water: lagoons, ponds and rain
- Lanterns, fireflies and other small lights
