Buildings on a River Bank [verso]
1640
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1640
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Buildings on a River Bank [verso] is a 1640 ink by Master of the Blue Landscapes, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a quiet riverside scene with two oxen pulling a loaded cart. The water is calm, and the bank has a few scattered rocks. In the distance, there’s a small town with simple buildings, one of them topped with a tower. The artist used quick, loose lines and light blue wash to create a soft, atmospheric look. The oxen and cart are drawn with simple shapes, almost like a quick note rather than a finished work. Next, look up cross-hatching to see how artists build texture with layers of lines.
![Buildings along a Riverside [verso]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/2575ea57b917e17d/thumb.webp)
![Village atop a River Cliff [recto]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/7884484b10704852/thumb.webp)
