Artwork
Buildings on a River Bank [verso]
![Buildings on a River Bank [verso], by Master of the Blue Landscapes, ink, 1640](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/master-of-the-blue-landscapes--buildings-on-a-river-bank-verso--87ce0f447b9c44c2-w1024.webp)
Buildings on a River Bank [verso] is an ink drawing by the Renaissance artist Master of the Blue Landscapes. It dates from 1640 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Buildings on a River Bank [verso] is a drawing by the Master of the Blue Landscapes, dated to 1640, executed in pen and brown ink, wash, and traces of black chalk on blue laid paper.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts a serene riverside scene featuring two oxen pulling a loaded cart near the water's edge, with a distant small town visible, characterized by simple architecture and a towered building.
Technique & Style
The artist employed quick, loose pen lines and a light blue wash to achieve a soft, atmospheric effect. The oxen and cart are rendered in simplified forms, suggesting a rapid or sketch-like approach.
History & Provenance
Created in 1640, the work's provenance history is not detailed in available information, though its attribution is to the Master of the Blue Landscapes, a designation implying a recognizable body of work in a similar style.
Context
The use of blue laid paper and the emphasis on atmospheric rendering place this work within the broader context of 17th-century European drawing practices that valued capturing light and mood.
Legacy
While specific influence or notable exhibitions of 'Buildings on a River Bank [verso]' are not highlighted in provided sources, its style and technique reflect the enduring appeal of quickly executed, expressive landscape drawings from the period.
Artist & collection

![Village atop a River Cliff [recto], by Master of the Blue Landscapes](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/master-of-the-blue-landscapes--village-atop-a-river-cliff-recto--7884484b10704852-w320.webp)









![Buildings along a Riverside [verso], by Hubert Robert](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/hubert-robert--buildings-along-a-riverside-verso--2575ea57b917e17d-w320.webp)