Ruins of a Fortified Tower among Wooded Hills [recto]

1816/1821

Friedrich Salathé

Associated Names
Friedrich Salathé

Artist, Swiss, 1793 - 1858

The image depicts an aerial perspective of a landscape. The horizon is high, showing a rolling terrain under a sky with light blue and soft beige clouds. A tall structure, possibly a tower, is in the foreground with sketchy tree outlines. Further back, there are brown patches indicating hills or cliffs, and more textured lines suggesting vegetation or structures. The color palette is muted with pastel tones and browns, and pencil lines are visible, giving the sketch a spontaneous, unfinished look.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    brown wash and watercolor over graphite on wove paper

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Kurt Meissner

  • Dimensions

    overall: 30.1 x 41.4 cm (11 7/8 x 16 5/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2002.47.1.a

Associated Artworks

The image features a sketch of a woodland scene. The point of view is from ground level, showing densely drawn trees that extend to the edges of the composition. The technique uses intricate pencil or ink lines to depict foliage and tree trunks, with a monochromatic color palette dominated by shades of sepia or light brown. Closest to us is a large, aged tree with a twisted trunk and sprawling branches. Other trees, less detailed, recede into the distance, creating depth in the image. The lines convey a natural setting.

Grove of Trees [verso]

Friedrich Salathé

1793

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Estate of the artist. Kurt Meissner, Zurich; gift to NGA, 2002.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1988

  • Friedrich Salathe, 1793 - 1858: Ein Zeichner der Romantik, Kunstmuseum Basel, Museum für Kunst und Kulturegeschichte der Hansestadt Lübeck, Staatsgalerie Stuttgart, 1988, no. 118, fig. 44.

Bibliography

2001

  • C. G. Boerner. 400 Years of Swiss Drawing: The Kurt Meissner Collection. New York, 2001: no. 12.

Inscriptions

upper left in graphite: mathematical calculations

Wikidata ID

Q64570876

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