Artwork
Fortified Castle Above a Narrow Valley

Fortified Castle Above a Narrow Valley is a graphite drawing by the Romanticist artist Friedrich Salathé. It dates from 1826 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Friedrich Salathé’s drawing titled *Fortified Castle Above a Narrow Valley* was executed in 1826. Rendered in graphite on wove paper, the work presents a detailed architectural study of a defensive structure perched over a constricted valley, emphasizing the interplay of stone mass and surrounding landscape.
Technique & Style
The artist employed graphite to achieve a range of tonal values, allowing precise rendering of the castle’s masonry and the shadowed recesses of the valley. The use of wove paper provides a smooth surface that supports fine line work, characteristic of early‑nineteenth‑century topographical drawing practices.
History & Provenance
Created in the early Romantic period, the drawing reflects contemporary interest in medieval fortifications and dramatic natural settings. While specific ownership records are limited, the piece has been catalogued among Salathé’s surviving drawings, indicating its preservation within institutional collections dedicated to 19th‑century European graphic art.
Artist & collection


![Tower of a Fortified House [recto], by Friedrich Salathé](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/friedrich-salathe--tower-of-a-fortified-house-recto--123693842ba6a52f-w320.webp)
![Grove of Trees [verso], by Friedrich Salathé](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/friedrich-salathe--grove-of-trees-verso--4013b539bd981a94-w320.webp)



![Ruins of a Fortified Tower among Wooded Hills [recto], by Friedrich Salathé](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/friedrich-salathe--ruins-of-a-fortified-tower-among-wooded-hills-recto--b1cfbca521a1183a-w320.webp)











