Artwork
A Stand of Trees
A Stand of Trees is a chalk drawing by the Romanticist artist Pierre Henri de Valenciennes. It dates from 1798 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower left in brown ink: DB; on the mount in pen and brown ink in another hand, an. 6e.
- Markings
- Marked:on the mount, N..D.. (blind stamp) [mark of the mounter and paperseller Niodot Fils, Paris; Lugt 1961a].
About this work
Overview
Pierre‑Henri de Valenciennes produced the drawing titled A Stand of Trees in 1798. Executed in black chalk on laid paper that has been mounted on an older album sheet, the work is part of the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a cluster of tall, twisted trees set within a forest clearing. Their thick, gnarled trunks and densely foliated branches create a sense of quiet solitude, while patches of grass and scattered fallen logs suggest a natural, undisturbed environment.
Technique & Style
Valenciennes employed monochrome chalk to render the scene, using subtle gradations of tone to convey volume and surface texture. Light falls unevenly across the trunks, producing areas of deep shadow that enhance the three‑dimensional impression through a restrained chiaroscuro effect.
History & Provenance
Created at the close of the eighteenth century, the drawing entered the National Gallery of Art’s holdings at an unspecified later date. Its mounting on an older album sheet indicates it may have been incorporated into a personal collection or study book before acquisition.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Pierre-Henri de Valenciennes (6 December 1750 – 16 February 1819) was a French painter. A neoclassicist artist, he was influential in elevating the status of En plein air (open-air painting).
