A Roman Capriccio
1764
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1764
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows a grand, empty building with tall columns and a flat roof, drawn in loose, sketchy lines. In front, a few people and horses move along a street, while a lone figure sits on a bench. The paper has a textured, aged look, and the ink varies from dark outlines to faint washes. The artist used quick, rough strokes to suggest depth and movement, almost like a quick note of a place they imagined. This style was common in sketches meant to capture ideas fast. Next, look up cross-hatching to see how artists build shadows with lines.
