Public collection via the Cleveland Museum of Art
AT-00009905About the Artwork
Here a young man uses a ladder to climb over a garden wall. The sign at his right translates into "School for Young Ladies under the Direction of Mrs. Wachsam"—wachsam being the German word for "watchful." Apparently, overcome by curiosity, the man cannot resist his desire to see the young women concealed behind the wall. Scenes with amorous, sometimes voyeuristic overtones are common in the work of Mongin. The artist also seems fascinated with depicting the exact details of his settings. In 1824, a critic who saw The Curious One wrote that Mongin's paintings are "portraits of houses coated in plaster, garden trees, almost trivial details, and this pleases me greatly. Full of naiveté, this is what I need in a landscape, as in a representation of man's actions." The critic's comments clearly demonstrate his appreciation for Mongin's work, as well as the artist's belief in the inherent relationship between nature and man.
Inscriptions
Signed lower left: P. Mongin/1823. [effaced] Inscribed on wall lower right: institution de jeunes demo[iselles] / dirigee par mme wachsam
Provenance
Thomas Robinson, Providence. His sale, New York, Moore's Art Galleries, 16-18 November 1886 (lot 184), Young Ladies' Institute, 17 x 12ž in., as by V. Bertin. Wendell P. Colton. Victor D. Spark, New York. Bought by Mr. and Mrs. Noah L. Butkin, 20 November 1977. Given to the CMA in 1977.
Exhibition history
Year in Review: 1977. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (December 28, 1977-January 22, 1978). Impressionist Gardens. National Galleries of Scotland (July 31-October 17, 2010); Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid, Spain (November 23, 2010-February 27, 2011).
Data retrieved from the Cleveland Museum of Art on October 8, 2026. The museum may have updated its record since.
Quick Overview
- Artist
- Antoine Pierre Mongin (French, 1761–1827)
- Date
- 1823
- Medium
- oil on paper mounted to canvas
- Dimensions
- Unframed: 43.5 x 34.6 cm (17 1/8 x 13 5/8 in.)
- Type
- Painting
- Classification
- Painting
- Department
- Modern European Painting and Sculpture
- Credit line
- Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Noah L. Butkin
- Accession no.
- 1977.116
More by Pierre Antoine Mongin in museum collections
View of the Park at Versailles: Fishing in Pond Near Grove of Trees
Pierre Antoine Monginn.d. · Drawing
Public collection via the Art Institute of Chicago
AT-00005028
Public collection via the Art Institute of Chicago
AT-00005029
Public collection via the Art Institute of Chicago
AT-00005030
View of the Park at Versailles: Two Poplar Trees with Balustraded Walk in Background
Pierre Antoine Monginn.d. · Drawing
Public collection via the Art Institute of Chicago
AT-00005031
Open-access museum record · AT-00009905
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