Lake Maggiore, May 12, 1869 (verso, from Sketchbook)

The drawing presents a calm body of water bordered by soft‑shaded peaks, with faint green smudges suggesting trees along the shore. The composition emphasizes stillness and the subtle interplay of light and atmosphere, reflecting McEntee’s interest in observing nature directly rather than through imagined or studio‑based scenes.

McEntee employed a limited palette on tinted paper, using graphite for initial outlines, white gouache to highlight reflective surfaces, and watercolor washes for atmospheric tone. The swift, gestural marks convey the fleeting quality of daylight, aligning the work with the Hudson River School’s emphasis on natural observation while employing a more intimate, sketch‑book format.

Created during McEntee’s European travels in 1869, the sketch was kept in his personal sketchbook, a practice he shared with fellow Hudson River School artists. The piece later entered the collection of the American Wing, where it is displayed among other works documenting 19th‑century American landscape practice.

At the time, many landscape painters produced large studio canvases after preliminary studies. McEntee’s decision to work directly outdoors reflects a broader 19th‑century shift toward plein‑air sketching, allowing artists to capture transient light effects before returning to the studio for finished compositions.