A Fortified Town in Italy
1747
graphite
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1747
graphite
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
A Fortified Town in Italy is a 1747 graphite by Joseph-Marie Vien, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a rough, black-and-white drawing of a walled town. The buildings have simple roofs and thick walls, with a big tower on the right. In the middle, there’s a small bridge over a river or canal, and the background has hills or cliffs. The lines are quick and loose, like a quick study. The artist used only graphite, so there’s no color—just shading to show light and dark. This style was common in the 1700s for quick sketches. Next, check out the Baroque movement to see how artists used drama and detail in their work.
