Artwork
The Laying of the Atlantic Cable at Foilhommerum Bay, Ireland
The Laying of the Atlantic Cable at Foilhommerum Bay, Ireland is an ink drawing by the Impressionist artist British 19th Century. It dates from 1865 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. This drawing depicts a cliffside scene at Foilhommerum Bay, Ireland, where the Atlantic Cable was laid.
About this work
Overview
This drawing depicts a cliffside scene at Foilhommerum Bay, Ireland, where the Atlantic Cable was laid. Created with a mix of media, it showcases the artist's use of various techniques to capture the landscape.
Subject & Meaning
The sketch shows a rocky shore with a winding path and buildings at the top of the cliff. A ship is faintly visible in the distance. The surrounding notes suggest it was a working sketch, possibly for a larger work, and include details like a telegraph house and wooden shed.
Technique & Style
The artist employed a range of media, including pen and ink, brush and gray wash, and white gouache over graphite. The loose, sketchy style is characterized by quick, light strokes, with some areas left as bare pencil marks, while others feature soft gray washes. The gouache adds a matte, opaque effect.
Artist & collection
Artist
This artist’s short life left behind a quiet obsession with water—whether the churn of a mill wheel, the choppy waves off England’s south coast, or the way light bounces off pond lilies.
Lulworth
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