Open full image Pin

The Fantastic Rocks and Castle at Bomarzo [verso]

Bartholomeus Breenbergh

1625

chalk

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque Baroque

Dominant colour

The Fantastic Rocks and Castle at Bomarzo [verso] is a 1625 chalk by Bartholomeus Breenbergh, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Bartholomeus Breenbergh
When & what style?: 1625 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows two rocky hills with faint outlines of buildings on top. The paper has a light brown tint, and the ink looks watery, like it’s fading. At the bottom, there’s a small cluster of trees and a wavy line that might be water. The artist used quick, loose strokes—no sharp details. The hills look almost like they’re melting into the page. This style was common for quick ideas or studies before a bigger work. Next, check out cross-hatching to see how artists build shadows with lines.