Italian City Scene

Hubert Robert, probably c. 1754/1765

This pencil sketch depicts a scene of rustic architecture from a slightly elevated angle. The horizon is at the top of the drawing, with trees and simple structures in the foreground. Two large building-like forms are prominent, one on the left and one on the right. Lines suggest smaller structures or a courtyard area between them. The monochromatic palette uses varying shades of graphite for depth. The pencil strokes are light and confident, detailing the forms and shading subtly to capture mass and space.
Artist
Hubert Robert
Date
probably c. 1754/1765
Type
Drawing
Medium
black chalk on laid paper
Dimensions
7.1 × 14.8 cm
Collection
National Gallery of Art, Washington
Licence
Public domain, CC0

Image description

This pencil sketch depicts a scene of rustic architecture from a slightly elevated angle. The horizon is at the top of the drawing, with trees and simple structures in the foreground. Two large building-like forms are prominent, one on the left and one on the right. Lines suggest smaller structures or a courtyard area between them. The monochromatic palette uses varying shades of graphite for depth. The pencil strokes are light and confident, detailing the forms and shading subtly to capture mass and space.

Hubert Robert