Ile de la Cité from the Institut, Paris

About this work

This sketch shows a Paris street scene with a mix of grand and simple buildings. On the left, a woman stands near an open doorway, while a horse-drawn carriage and a few pedestrians move along the cobblestone road. The architecture includes tall columns and a rooftop with statues—one looks like a chariot pulled by horses. The artist used loose, sketchy lines to capture light and shadow quickly. This style fits a time when artists often drew on the spot to record what they saw. Next, check out the technique: chiaroscuro to see how light and dark create depth in drawings.