Bay of Spezia
1850
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1850
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Bay of Spezia is a 1850 watercolor by Unknown, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This watercolor shows a quiet bay framed by two large trees with gnarled branches. Below them, a rocky shore leads to a small town with white buildings clustered near the water. In the distance, a tall tower stands alone on the horizon, while the sky is soft and pale. The brushstrokes are loose, letting the paper show through in places. The artist focused on light and shadow to give depth without sharp lines. Next, look up *sfumato* to see how artists blur edges for dreamy effects.
