1679
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Vue du Château de Fontainebleau, du côté de l'Orangerie is a 1679 by Israël Silvestre, a Baroque work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This drawing shows a grand palace with tall windows and a steep roof on the left. In front of it, there’s a wide courtyard packed with neatly trimmed trees and winding paths. Statues stand on raised platforms, and a few people walk around the garden. The sky above is light and airy, while the buildings and hedges are drawn in sharp, dark lines. The artist focused on the palace’s side facing the orangery—a place where citrus trees were kept indoors in winter. The orderly garden and grand architecture suggest this was meant for royalty or the very wealthy. Want to see more like this? Check out Baroque architecture for similar dramatic designs.
Israel Silvestre (13 August 1621 in Nancy – 11 October 1691 in Paris), called the Younger to distinguish him from his father, was a prolific French draftsman, etcher and print dealer who specialized in topographical views and perspectives of famous buildings.
See the richer artist page
