Artwork

Sawley Abbey

Sawley Abbey, by Francis Seymour Haden, ink, 1873
Sawley Abbey, by Francis Seymour Haden, ink, 1873

Sawley Abbey is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Francis Seymour Haden. It dates from 1873 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Sawley Abbey is an etching on buff wove paper created by Francis Seymour Haden in 1873. The print is part of the collection at the National Gallery of Art, Washington.

Subject & Meaning

The etching depicts a serene landscape with a meandering road and river, open fields, grazing sheep, and trees on the horizon. In the distance, a bridge, buildings, and a church are rendered in loose, expressive lines, evoking a sense of tranquility.

Technique & Style

The artist employed etching, a technique involving scratching lines into a metal plate, to achieve a balance of sharp edges and soft shading. This method allowed Haden to capture the subtleties of the landscape.

Artist & collection

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.