The Wellington Tree
1816
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1816
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
This sketch shows a single, bare tree with twisted branches against a plain background. The lines are light and quick, almost like a quick note rather than a finished drawing. The paper looks old and yellowed, with some smudges and faint marks. The artist focused on the tree’s shape and texture, leaving out any extra details. This style was common in early 1800s sketches, where speed mattered more than perfection. Next, check out cross-hatching to see how artists build shading with layers of lines.
