Dordrecht

1870-1877

Walter Shirlaw

Associated Names
Walter Shirlaw

Artist, American, 1838 - 1909

The image shows a street view from a slightly elevated point, allowing the viewer to look into an archway that frames a couple in the distance. The focus is on the architectural detailing of the archway and the space beyond it. The arch appears to be ornate, showcasing intricate designs and carvings typical of an older architectural style. The drawing is in monochrome, created with pencil or charcoal, depicting a soft contrast between light and shadow. The strokes vary, with denser shading around the archway for depth and lighter strokes where the couple stands, suggesting light hitting the surface. The palette consists of shades of grey, giving the sketch a classic and subdued atmosphere, emphasizing the play of light and shadow in the scene.

Media Options

This object’s media is free and in the public domain. Read our full Open Access policy for images.

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    graphite on wove paper

  • Credit Line

    Corcoran Collection

  • Dimensions

    sheet: 37.78 × 26.83 cm (14 7/8 × 10 9/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2015.19.3547


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

the artist, New York; Mrs. Walter Shirlaw, New York, 1909; Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC; acquired 2015 by the National Gallery of Art

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1983

  • The Grand Tour, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, 1983

Bibliography

1983

  • Simmons, Linda Crocker and with the assistance of Adrianne J. Humphrey, et al. American Drawings, Watercolors, Pastels, and Collages in the Collection of the Corcoran Gallery of Art. Washington, DC: Corcoran Gallery of Art, 1983: p. 84, no. 527.

Inscriptions

lower left in graphite: W Shirlaw / Dordrecht

Wikidata ID

Q64634331

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