Open full image Pin

A Terrace and Garden on Capri [recto]

François-Édouard Bertin

1822

chalk

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism Early 19th Century Architectural

Dominant colour

A Terrace and Garden on Capri [recto] is a 1822 chalk by François-Édouard Bertin, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: François-Édouard Bertin
When & what style?: 1822 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a quiet terrace with a few simple columns and a low wall. Beyond it, a garden unfolds with a single tall palm tree, some bushes, and a distant dome-shaped building. The sky is faint, and the whole scene feels like a calm afternoon. The artist used mostly charcoal on blue paper, giving it a cool, soft look. The lines are light but detailed, especially around the leaves and shadows. Next, check out the technique: scumbling to see how artists create texture with loose strokes.