The image depicts a landscape with various trees and plants from a lower ground level perspective. The horizon is subtly suggested by distant spires or structures visible through the foliage. The brushstrokes vary in thickness and detail, with bold strokes for tree trunks and finer strokes for foliage and distant elements. The color palette is predominantly sepia and black, creating a pen and ink sketch effect. Large trees frame a pathway that leads the viewer's gaze deeper into the scene, with more trees and structures visible in the distance. The background fades into lighter shades, suggesting light filtering through a dense canopy.
Read the visual description

The image depicts a landscape with various trees and plants from a lower ground level perspective. The horizon is subtly suggested by distant spires or structures visible through the foliage. The brushstrokes vary in thickness and detail, with bold strokes for tree trunks and finer strokes for foliage and distant elements. The color palette is predominantly sepia and black, creating a pen and ink sketch effect. Large trees frame a pathway that leads the viewer's gaze deeper into the scene, with more trees and structures visible in the distance. The background fades into lighter shades, suggesting light filtering through a dense canopy.

National Gallery of Art · Drawing

A Tree-lined Garden Path (Preliminary Sketch for "Sleeping Beauty and the Beast"?)

Robert Caney

Date
1900?
Medium
pen and brown ink with brown wash and graphite on wove paper
Dimensions
sheet: 18.7 x 21.6 cm (7 3/8 x 8 1/2 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Accession number
2009.70.80
Credit line
Joseph F. McCrindle Collection
Time span
1876 to 1900
Department
CG-E

Portfolio and series

Series
Set Designs for Drury Lane Theatre

Subjects and terms

  • plant
  • Tree
  • Garden
Provenance

probably Miss Dinah Caney (sale, Sotheby's, London, 29 June 1973, part of lot 299); (bought by Christopher Powney); Finchden Manor, Tenterden, Kent; Joseph F. McCrindle [1923-2008], New York, 1977; Joseph F. McCrindle Foundation, 2008; gift to NGA, 2009.

Inscription

by later hand, across verso in graphite: (writing exercise consisting of various words, such as"journey," "opportunity," "Constantinople," and "elephant," written repeatedly); by later hand, lower right verso in graphite (upside down): 31 / [undeciphered signature]

NGA object ID 143776. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.