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Eddystone Lighthouse

of Eldin, John Clerk

1776

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism 18th Century

Dominant colour

Eddystone Lighthouse is a 1776 ink by of Eldin, John Clerk, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: of Eldin, John Clerk
When & what style?: 1776 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

You're looking at a dramatic black-and-white etching of a lighthouse. The lighthouse is in the center, with a tower that tapers up to a point. It's surrounded by rough, choppy waves and dark, stormy clouds. Two boats are in the water, one on either side of the lighthouse. The etching is done in a lot of detail, with lots of lines and textures that give it a sense of movement and energy. One interesting thing about this etching is the way it uses light and shadow to create a sense of drama and tension. The lighthouse is lit up from within, and the light spills out onto the surrounding water and clouds. This creates a sense of contrast and highlights the rough, turbulent nature of the sea. If you like this etching, you might want to check out more works by the Romanticism movement.