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Boats and Gondolas before the Piazza San Marco

Félix Ziem

1866

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism Late 19th Century

Dominant colour

Boats and Gondolas before the Piazza San Marco is a 1866 ink by Félix Ziem, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Félix Ziem
When & what style?: 1866 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows boats on a waterway, with tall masts and sails catching the light. In the distance, a building with a tall tower and a dome sits on the shore. The artist used quick, loose lines and shading to show movement and light. The paper has a textured look, and the ink is layered in spots to add depth. This style was common in the 1800s for quick studies of scenes. Try looking up cross-hatching to see how artists build shadows with lines.