The image is a pencil sketch showcasing a landscape with both natural and architectural elements. The viewpoint is slightly elevated, offering a clear perspective. In the upper part of the image, there are various buildings with distinct rooftops, resembling a small town or village. The buildings fade into the background, and the sketch uses soft and varied pencil strokes to depict texture. Light and shadow create depth, and the style is loose with visible lines and shading. Trees and vegetation are depicted with overlapping lines to convey density, and there are suggestions of pathways or clearings. The color palette is monochromatic, mostly in shades of gray to highlight the pencil medium.
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The image is a pencil sketch showcasing a landscape with both natural and architectural elements. The viewpoint is slightly elevated, offering a clear perspective. In the upper part of the image, there are various buildings with distinct rooftops, resembling a small town or village. The buildings fade into the background, and the sketch uses soft and varied pencil strokes to depict texture. Light and shadow create depth, and the style is loose with visible lines and shading. Trees and vegetation are depicted with overlapping lines to convey density, and there are suggestions of pathways or clearings. The color palette is monochromatic, mostly in shades of gray to highlight the pencil medium.

National Gallery of Art · Drawing

A Waterfall near a Hilltown in Italy

Joseph-Marie Vien

Date
1744/1750
Medium
graphite on laid paper
Dimensions
sheet: 13.1 x 18.5 cm (5 3/16 x 7 5/16 in.) page size: 42.5 x 27.7 cm (16 3/4 x 10 7/8 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Accession number
1983.49.199
Credit line
Mark J. Millard Architectural Collection
Time span
1726 to 1750
Department
CG-E

Subjects and terms

  • French
  • Italy
  • architecture
  • Landscape
  • landscape
Provenance

Antonio Cesare Poggi (died c. 1836; Lugt 617); Charles Edouard Mewes; Mark J. Millard, New York; purchased by NGA, 1983.

NGA object ID 62521. 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.