Who painted Landscape with Ruins (recto, from sketchbook)?

Landscape with Ruins (recto, from sketchbook) was painted by Jervis McEntee in 1869.

Where can I see Landscape with Ruins (recto, from sketchbook)?

Landscape with Ruins (recto, from sketchbook) is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Landscape with Ruins (recto, from sketchbook)?

Landscape with Ruins (recto, from sketchbook) is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Landscape with Ruins (recto, from sketchbook)

Jervis McEntee , 1869

Landscape with Ruins (recto, from sketchbook) is a gouache drawing by the Impressionist artist Jervis McEntee. It dates from 1869 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Created in 1869, this drawing combines graphite with white gouache on a blue wove paper support.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The juxtaposition of decaying architecture with expansive scenery conveys a symbolic meditation on transience and the passage of time.

The drawing shows a solitary ruin set within an open landscape, suggesting contemplation of past civilizations amid nature. The juxtaposition of decaying architecture with expansive scenery conveys a symbolic meditation on transience and the passage of time. McEntee’s careful rendering of the crumbling walls emphasizes the quiet dignity of forgotten structures, inviting viewers to reflect on historical memory and the fleeting nature of human achievement.

Technique & Style

Graphite and white gouache on blue-wove paper, this recto drawing from a sketchbook records a landscape with ruins. It was created in 1869 by Jervis McEntee, a member of the American Hudson River School, and exemplifies his meticulous draftsmanship and atmospheric rendering of topography. The work belongs to the landscape genre and is part of the collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is catalogued in the American Wing.

The drawing employs a combination of precise graphite lines and opaque white gouache to suggest light and depth over crumbling architectural forms. Its handling reflects academic conventions of 19th‑century American landscape studies, balancing topographical accuracy with poetic ambience. The composition emphasizes spatial recession through layered washes and delicate shading, while the stylistic handling of foliage and masonry reveals McEntee’s synthesis of European precedents and native scenery.

History & Provenance

Landscape with Ruins (recto, from sketchbook) is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it is classified within the American Wing. The work, created by Jervis McEntee in 1869, is executed in graphite and white gouache on blue wove paper. While the sources confirm the museum's possession and the artwork's creation date, they do not provide a specific inventory or accession number for the piece. Additionally, the available documentation does not record any past or planned exhibition history for this specific drawing.

Overview

Created in 1869, this drawing combines graphite with white gouache on a blue wove paper support. The composition presents a gentle hillside scattered with weathered stone walls and sparse trees, rendered in a subdued palette that emphasizes the atmospheric quality of the scene.

Context

Produced during the later phase of the Hudson River School, the work reflects the movement’s enduring interest in depicting the American wilderness alongside subtle signs of civilization. Its modest scale and sketch-like execution illustrate the practice of on-site recording that artists used to develop larger studio compositions.

Outline Sketch of Mountains (verso, from Sketchbook), Jervis McEntee

Artist & collection

Artist

Jervis McEntee

Jervis McEntee (July 14, 1828 – January 27, 1891) was an American painter of the Hudson River School.

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art

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