Approach to Petra, an Ancient Watch Tower Commanding the Valley of El Chor
1839
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1839
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This painting shows a desert scene with a massive rock formation looming in the background. Below it, a group of people and camels rest near tents by a dry riverbed. The colors are mostly muted earth tones, with some reds and blues in the clothing. The title tells us this is a watchtower near Petra, an ancient city. The artist captured the vastness of the landscape, making the people and animals look small by comparison. Look up Romanticism to see how this style often focused on grand nature scenes.
