Artwork

Marino and the Alban Hills

Marino and the Alban Hills, by Charles Joseph Natoire, ink, 1769
Marino and the Alban Hills, by Charles Joseph Natoire, ink, 1769

Marino and the Alban Hills is an ink drawing by the Romanticist artist Charles Joseph Natoire. It dates from 1769 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Next, check out the technique: watercolor, glazing to see how layers of translucent paint create this dreamy effect.

This sketch shows a quiet hillside village with simple stone buildings and a winding path. A lone figure in a red coat sits on a low wall, watching two sheep graze nearby. The background stretches to rolling hills and distant trees, painted in soft browns and greens.

The artist used quick, loose strokes to capture light and shadow—notice how the washy colors blend to show depth. The signature in the corner reads "C. Natoire, a Marine 1769," hinting at a sailor’s eye for landscapes.

Next, check out the technique: watercolor, glazing to see how layers of translucent paint create this dreamy effect.

Overview

Marino and the Alban Hills is a drawing by Charles Joseph Natoire, created in 1769. It is executed in a mix of media on laid paper.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing depicts a serene village scene, with simple stone buildings and a winding path. A figure in a red coat sits on a wall, observing two grazing sheep, set against a backdrop of rolling hills and distant trees.

Technique & Style

Natoire employed a range of techniques, combining pen and ink, wash, watercolor, and gouache to achieve a soft, dreamy effect. Loose strokes and layered colors create a sense of depth and capture the play of light and shadow.

History & Provenance

The drawing is signed 'C. Natoire, a Marine 1769', indicating the artist's presence in Marino, near the Alban Hills, at the time of its creation.

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.