Read the visual description
The image shows a distant cityscape with a central scene. The composition includes a body of water with a sailboat to the right. The drawing features simple and loose pencil or pen strokes in a quick, gestural style. The color palette is monochromatic, using neutral tones of the paper and dark ink or graphite. Above the horizon line, there are swift lines indicating clouds or distant birds in the sky.
National Gallery of Art · Drawing
A Cove with a Sailboat
Félix Ziem
- Medium
- pen and black ink on heavy wove paper (invitation card)
- Dimensions
- sheet: 9.4 x 13.9 cm (3 11/16 x 5 1/2 in.)
- Classification
- Drawing
- Accession number
- 2009.70.254
- Credit line
- Joseph F. McCrindle Collection
- Time span
- 1801 to 1825
- Department
- CG-E
Subjects and terms
- Landscape
- Water
- Boat
Provenance
(Paul Prouté, S.A., Paris); Joseph F. McCrindle [1923-2008], New York, 1989; Joseph F. McCrindle Foundation, 2008; gift to NGA, 2009.
Inscription
printed on the verso in black ink, with blanks filled in in brown ink: Monsieur & Madame Charles Cosson / prient _Monsieur Ziem_/[blank printed line]/ de leur faire l'honneur de venir diner chez / eux le _mercredi 16 avril_ / 7 heures / 33, rue de Chateaudun; printed at lower left verso in black ink: Stern-Graveur; many doodles by Ziem in pen and ink around the margins, including the word "Monsieur" three times, and Granier-/Michel./Voiture/Benoit at right (sideways).
Marks
artist's atelier stamp in red, recto (Lugt 3707) and verso (Lugt 3708)
NGA object ID 143788. 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.