Castle on a Hill

1775/80

Jacques-Louis David

Associated Names
Jacques-Louis David

Artist, French, 1748 - 1825

The image shows a pencil sketch of a scenic landscape with a castle-like structure. The horizon is not clearly defined due to the hillside and castle dominating the upper portion of the image. The castle is on a slight incline with trees sketched around its base. Delicate pencil strokes depict the form and texture of the trees, castle, and surrounding nature. The color palette is monochromatic, with greys and whites on cream-colored paper. The foreground has trees and shrubbery, leading to the detailed castle in the distance. Faint lines indicate rolling hills beyond the castle.

Media Options

This object’s media is free and in the public domain. Read our full Open Access policy for images.
Not on view See artworks now on view

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    black chalk on light green-gray laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Patrons' Permanent Fund

  • Accession Number

    1998.105.1.tt

Associated Artworks

See all 86 artworks
This is a photograph of a textured brown cover with an intricate pattern. The cover has a rich, earthy tone with a subtle and complex swirling pattern across the surface. It appears to be an old book or journal cover, with a darker brown border outlining it. There is a handwritten red and black text near the top. The overall appearance suggests a vintage or antique quality, with signs of wear along the edges.

Roman Album No. 4: Italian Landscapes and Antiquities

Jacques-Louis David

1775

The image shows a person walking to the right, holding an object in their right hand. They are wearing an ancient Roman or Greek-style draped garment with a head covering. The person's face is in profile, looking slightly upward. Garlands with objects like a basket and cloth hang in the air around them. The background is plain, emphasizing the person and the hanging objects.

Ornament with a Bearded Man in Ancient Dress

Jacques-Louis David

1775

This image shows an illustration of a woman standing upright. She is wearing flowing garments that suggest movement, with one knee bent as if in motion. Her hair is styled in tight curls and appears to be pulled back. The woman's facial expression is focused as she gazes upward or forward. She seems to be holding something in her right hand, while her left arm is hidden. The background is plain.

Niobe and Her Daughter

Jacques-Louis David

1775

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Estate of the artist (sale, Paris, 17 April 1826, under no. 66; withdrawn); Mme. David (sale, Paris, 11 March 1835, under no. 16); purchased by one of David's pupils, Mlle. X (name obliterated);[1] by descent in her family; (Bruno de Bayser, Paris); purchased 1998 by NGA.
[1] According to inscription on flyleaf.

Associated Names

Bibliography

2022

  • Stein, Perrin. Jacques Louis David: Radical Draftsman. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2022, 94, fig. 60.

Inscriptions

lower left: paraphes of E.D. and J.D.

Wikidata ID

Q64580188

You may be interested in

Loading Results