An Alpine Landscape with a Couple Seated by Trees Overlooking a Valley

1760/1763

Benjamin West

Associated Names
Benjamin West

Artist, American, 1738 - 1820

The image shows an expansive landscape drawing with distant mountains forming a soft horizon line towards the upper part of the image. The horizon sits relatively low, creating an impression of openness with wide-reaching skies above. Thin, delicate lines depict natural features such as undulating hills and sparse vegetation. The color palette is monochromatic, consisting of grey tones. In the foreground, there are two wind-blown trees and a figure seated beneath them, looking out at the scenery. Beyond them, in the distance, there are trees and elongated forms suggesting distant hills or fields leading up to the base of the mountains.

Media Options

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

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    pen and gray ink on light gray laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Gift of William B. O'Neal

  • Dimensions

    sheet: 36.4 × 50.2 cm (14 5/16 × 19 3/4 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1995.52.194


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

The Margary family (West's granddaughter); to her son, Harry Margary; (Bury Street Gallery [William Drummond], London); purchased by William B. O'Neal, Charlottesville, VA, 1986-1994; gift to NGA, 1995.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1993

  • Drawings from the O'Neal Collection, National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1993, no. 33.

1996

  • Drawings from the O'Neal Collection, Georgia Museum of Art, The University of Georgia, Athens, 4 May-16 June, 1996.

Bibliography

1993

  • NGA O'Neal 1993, ex 33.

Inscriptions

center right verso on grapite: CH 3 (circle)/ (not deciphered) marks/ 2/24;

Wikidata ID

Q64537249

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