
Read the visual description
The image shows an expansive landscape drawing with distant mountains forming a soft horizon line towards the upper part of the image. The horizon sits relatively low, creating an impression of openness with wide-reaching skies above. Thin, delicate lines depict natural features such as undulating hills and sparse vegetation. The color palette is monochromatic, consisting of grey tones. In the foreground, there are two wind-blown trees and a figure seated beneath them, looking out at the scenery. Beyond them, in the distance, there are trees and elongated forms suggesting distant hills or fields leading up to the base of the mountains.
National Gallery of Art · Drawing
An Alpine Landscape with a Couple Seated by Trees Overlooking a Valley
Benjamin West
- Date
- 1760/1763
- Medium
- pen and gray ink on light gray laid paper
- Dimensions
- sheet: 36.4 × 50.2 cm (14 5/16 × 19 3/4 in.)
- Classification
- Drawing
- Accession number
- 1995.52.194
- Credit line
- Gift of William B. O'Neal
- Time span
- 1751 to 1775
- Department
- CG-W
Subjects and terms
- American
- figure
- Landscape
- Tree
- Mountain
- City
Provenance
The Margary family (West's granddaughter); to her son, Harry Margary; (Bury Street Gallery [William Drummond], London); purchased by William B. O'Neal, Charlottesville, VA, 1986-1994; gift to NGA, 1995.
Inscription
center right verso on grapite: CH 3 (circle)/ (not deciphered) marks/ 2/24;
NGA object ID 76184. 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.