The Pride of the Village 1858 - 1859

"The Pride of the Village" is a painting by Henry Peters Gray, completed between 1858 and 1859. The work depicts a scene of domesticity, where a young woman sits in a chair being comforted by an older woman as a man reads from a book. The image portrays the warmth and love of family in a domestic setting. Gray's attention to detail in the composition, the lighting, and the use of color creates a feeling of realism and intimacy. This painting is considered a masterpiece of American Genre painting, a movement that focused on everyday life and common people. It is currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.