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Studies of the Colosseum and Monte Pincio (verso)

Julius Jacob the Elder

1851

graphite

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism Early 19th Century

Dominant colour

Studies of the Colosseum and Monte Pincio (verso) is a 1851 graphite by Julius Jacob the Elder, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Julius Jacob the Elder
When & what style?: 1851 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows quick, rough drawings of old buildings and ruins. The biggest shape is a dome, likely a famous church, with smaller structures around it. Some sketches look like crumbling walls or staircases, and one corner has a tree with bare branches. The artist used light pencil lines and added white highlights to make parts stand out. The paper is brown and looks worn, like it was used fast. Try looking up chiaroscuro to see how light and shadow work in drawings like this.