1747
graphite
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Roman Buildings with an Open Shed is a 1747 graphite by Joseph-Marie Vien, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows old stone buildings with crumbling walls and arches. A small open shed sits in the middle, its roof half-collapsed. The ground is uneven, with patches of grass and shadows stretching across it. The lines are loose and quick, like a hurried sketch. The artist focused on texture—rough walls, broken steps, and the play of light. It’s not polished; it feels like a study, not a finished work. Look up Baroque next to see how artists used drama and movement in their work.
Joseph-Marie Vien (18 June 1716 – 27 March 1809) was a French painter. He was the last holder of the post of Premier peintre du Roi, serving from 1789 to 1791, before it was abolished during the French Revolution.
See the richer artist page
![Buildings along a Riverside [verso]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/2575ea57b917e17d/thumb.webp)
