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Tower of the Cathedral at Sens

John Ruskin

1845

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism Early 19th Century Architectural

Dominant colour

Tower of the Cathedral at Sens is a 1845 ink by John Ruskin, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: John Ruskin
When & what style?: 1845 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a tall, narrow church tower with pointed arches and small windows. Next to it is a building with a rounded window and a simple balcony. The colors are mostly soft browns and pale blues, with quick brushstrokes that leave some areas sketchy. The artist used loose lines and watery washes to capture light and shadow fast. This style was common in Romanticism, where artists focused on mood over detail. Look up Romanticism next to see how this fits into the bigger picture.