Artwork
Brickwork in Rimini
Brickwork in Rimini is a graphite drawing by the Impressionist artist John Russell Pope. It dates from 1898 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
John Russell Pope’s drawing titled *Brickwork in Rimini* dates from around 1898. Executed in graphite, the work records a modest brick structure with a flat roof and a small window, rendered in a sketch‑like manner. The composition includes a frontal view and a supplementary side view, allowing the viewer to perceive the building’s form from two angles.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing captures an ordinary brick building in the Italian city of Rimini, focusing on the interplay of light across its façade. By emphasizing the way illumination darkens certain brick surfaces, Pope investigates the visual qualities of everyday architecture, using the study as a means to understand how light defines volume and texture in built forms.
Technique & Style
Pope employed swift, light graphite strokes to suggest the brick pattern rather than delineate each unit. The lines are deliberately loose, conveying the overall mass of the walls while leaving much to the viewer’s imagination. The study’s unfinished character reflects a practice of rapid observation, typical of architectural sketching in the late nineteenth century.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1898, the drawing belongs to a period when Pope was developing his architectural interests before turning to larger commissions. It remains part of his early sketchbooks, which document his travels and studies of European structures. The work has been referenced in catalogues of Pope’s preparatory drawings, illustrating his formative approach to architectural representation.
Artist & collection
![The Erectheum, West Elevation [left half], by John Russell Pope](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/john-russell-pope--the-erectheum-west-elevation-left-half--10b9b48e87f30a0f-w320.webp)
