Artwork
A Waterfall with Ruins (verso)
A Waterfall with Ruins (verso) is a gouache drawing by the Baroque artist Joachim Franz Beich. It dates from 1709 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Joachim Franz Beich’s drawing, titled A Waterfall with Ruins (verso), was executed in 1709. Rendered on blue laid paper, the work combines a gray wash with white gouache highlights, depicting a cascade set against architectural remnants.
Technique & Style
The artist employed a layered approach, first applying a muted gray wash to establish atmospheric depth, then adding white gouache to accentuate the water’s motion and the outlines of the ruins. The use of blue laid paper provides a cool undertone that enhances the contrast between the wash and the opaque highlights.
Subject & Meaning
The composition juxtaposes natural and man‑made elements, presenting a waterfall that flows through the skeletal remains of classical structures. This pairing reflects a common 18th‑century fascination with the passage of time and the interplay between nature’s vitality and the decay of human creations.
Artist & collection
Fragment of the Old City Wall at San Giovanni Laterano
The Great Hall at Conway Castle
Building in Ruins at the Side of a River
Ruins by a River with a Man in a Boat
The Old Palace at Tivoli
Ruins of the Abbey, Thetford, Norfolk
Man and Ox in a River
Italian Landscape with Fortifications and a Waterfall
An Italian View
Arches of the Larger Baths at Hadrian's Villa