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The image portrays an architectural scene with classical structures adorned with columns and ornate decorations. The detailed lines and shadows highlight elements like statues and grand staircases. The horizon is concealed by the grand buildings. The etching technique shows precise line work capturing the grandeur. The color palette is primarily sepia and black. The sky features swirling lines indicating movement, with small figures in the distance adding scale to the scene.
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The image portrays an architectural scene with classical structures adorned with columns and ornate decorations. The detailed lines and shadows highlight elements like statues and grand staircases. The horizon is concealed by the grand buildings. The etching technique shows precise line work capturing the grandeur. The color palette is primarily sepia and black. The sky features swirling lines indicating movement, with small figures in the distance adding scale to the scene.

National Gallery of Art · Drawing

Architectural Fantasy of a Magnificent Ancient Port

Pierre Moreau

Date
c. 1750
Medium
pen and brown and black ink on laid paper on old mount
Dimensions
sheet: 18.2 × 27.4 cm (7 3/16 × 10 13/16 in.) mount: 33.1 × 42.2 cm (13 1/16 × 16 5/8 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Accession number
2014.88.1
Credit line
William B. O'Neal Fund
Time span
1651 to 1700
Department
CG-E
Original NGA record Wikidata

Subjects and terms

  • architecture
  • Statue
  • Boat
  • Building
  • Figures
Provenance

(sale, Christie's Paris, 26 March 2014, no. 81, as "attributed to Jean-Laurent Legeay"); (via Paul Prouté, S.A., Paris); purchased 2014 by NGA.

Inscription

by later hand, lower right in graphite: dessin de S. Challes

NGA object ID 164875. 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.