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Study of Trees in a Landscape

John Varley

1810

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism Early 19th Century Landscape

Dominant colour

Study of Trees in a Landscape is a 1810 ink by John Varley, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: John Varley
When & what style?: 1810 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a single, lumpy pine tree standing on a rocky hillside. The branches are thick and uneven, with sharp lines marking each needle cluster. In the background, faint outlines of distant hills and tiny buildings appear, barely visible through the tree’s shadow. The artist used quick, sketchy strokes—some overlapping—to build up the tree’s shape. The brown ink and wash give it a rough, almost textured look, like real bark. Look up cross-hatching next to see how artists layer lines to create depth.