Village atop a River Cliff [recto]
1640
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1640
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Village atop a River Cliff [recto] is a 1640 ink by Master of the Blue Landscapes, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a small town built on a steep cliff by a river. The buildings are simple, with one tall tower and a few smaller roofs. The river below is calm, with a lone figure walking along the shore. The artist used quick, loose lines and a light blue wash to fill the sky and water. The sketch feels like a quick study—maybe the artist was testing shapes and light. The paper has a blue tint, which makes the brown ink stand out. Next, look up cross-hatching to see how artists build shadows with lines.
![Buildings on a River Bank [verso]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/87ce0f447b9c44c2/thumb.webp)
