Artwork
An Ancient Tree with Figures in a Landscape
An Ancient Tree with Figures in a Landscape is a graphite drawing by the Romanticist artist Friedrich Salathé. It dates from 1835 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Subject & Meaning
The central motif is a venerable tree, rendered with meticulous attention to its bark, branches, and foliage. The presence of distant human figures provides a narrative scale, suggesting the tree’s longevity and its role as a silent witness to everyday life.
Technique & Style
Salathé employed graphite to achieve a range of tonal values, building form through layered strokes that convey the texture of bark and the subtle gradations of light across the leaves. The drawing’s fine line work and careful modeling reflect the academic drawing practices of the early nineteenth century.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1835, the piece belongs to Salathé’s early period, when he was exploring landscape subjects through drawing before turning to larger painted works. Its provenance traces through private collections before entering a public institution’s holdings in the late twentieth century.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
![Tower of a Fortified House [recto], by Friedrich Salathé](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/friedrich-salathe--tower-of-a-fortified-house-recto--123693842ba6a52f-w320.webp)
![Grove of Trees [verso], by Friedrich Salathé](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/friedrich-salathe--grove-of-trees-verso--4013b539bd981a94-w320.webp)
