A View of the Sea by Moonlight
1757
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1757
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
A View of the Sea by Moonlight is a 1757 by Thomas Major, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This print shows three ships on a dark, stormy sea under a moonlit sky. Two smaller boats with people inside float nearby, and two figures stand on the shore, one holding a pole. The water looks rough, and the clouds are thick and dramatic. The artist used shading to make the scene feel dramatic, with deep blacks and soft whites. The moon peeks through the clouds, lighting the water and ships faintly. Look up chiaroscuro to see how this lighting technique works.
