Hilly Landscape with Ships

Gherardo Cibo

1570

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Landscape

About this work

This sketch shows a rough, rocky shore with a few small boats floating near the water. Behind it, a hill rises, covered in tangled trees and bushes. A single building sits halfway up the slope, looking small and simple. The artist used quick, sketchy lines to show texture—like the rough bark of trees or the uneven rocks. The whole scene feels like a quick study, not a polished finish. Next, check out the technique: gouache to see how artists use it for sketches like this.