Artwork
Farm with Trees in a Hilly Landscape (recto)
Farm with Trees in a Hilly Landscape (recto) is a drawing by the Renaissance artist Gherardo Cibo. It dates from 1567 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This modest drawing records a farm set amid gently undulating hills and a stand of trees.
About this work
Overview
This modest drawing records a farm set amid gently undulating hills and a stand of trees. Executed on paper, the composition is compact and precise, capturing the immediate landscape surrounding the artist’s position. The work functions as a visual field note, linking a specific botanical observation to its broader environmental context.
Subject & Meaning
The scene illustrates an agricultural setting typical of the Marches region, with cultivated fields, a modest farmhouse, and surrounding woodland. By annotating the drawing with the name of a cornflower collected on site, the artist emphasizes the interrelation of cultivated land and native flora, underscoring a scientific interest in documenting plant habitats.
Technique & Style
Rendered with fine, controlled lines, the drawing employs a subtle gradation of tone that softens edges, reminiscent of the sfumato approach used by Renaissance masters. The composition reflects an awareness of Florentine and Venetian landscape conventions, yet remains restrained, serving the practical purpose of accurate observation rather than decorative effect.
History & Provenance
Created by Gherardo Cibo, a 16th‑century botanist who compiled several herbarium volumes in the Marches, the work originates from his field activities. Cibo’s early exposure to Northern European landscape drawing informed his style, and the piece likely formed part of his personal research archive rather than a public collection.
Artist & collection
Artist
Gherardo Cibo, also known by the alias of Ulisse Severini da Cingoli (1512 − 30 January 1600), was an artist and a herbalist from Italy.
