Who painted Hexagonal Temple in an Italianate Landscape?

Hexagonal Temple in an Italianate Landscape was painted by Louis Gustave Taraval in 1780.

Where can I see Hexagonal Temple in an Italianate Landscape?

Hexagonal Temple in an Italianate Landscape is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Hexagonal Temple in an Italianate Landscape?

Hexagonal Temple in an Italianate Landscape is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Hexagonal Temple in an Italianate Landscape

Louis Gustave Taraval , 1780

Hexagonal Temple in an Italianate Landscape is an ink drawing by the Romanticist artist Louis Gustave Taraval. It dates from 1780 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Louis‑Gustave Taraval’s drawing, titled Hexagonal Temple in an Italianate Landscape, dates to around 1780. Executed on laid paper, the work combines pen and black ink with watercolor and a gray wash, all framed by a blue‑watercolor border. The composition presents a six‑sided temple with a domed roof, set within a pastoral scene populated by figures, horses and dogs.

Subject & Meaning

The central structure is a hexagonal building crowned by a dome and flanked by six columns, its entrance marked by a large portal. Statues line the roof’s edge, while surrounding figures in period costume stroll, converse, and ride. Dogs wander near the steps, and distant ruins and trees frame the setting, suggesting an idealized classical landscape.

Technique & Style

A light gray wash overlays the scene, and the sky is rendered in a pale, almost translucent wash, lending the composition a calm, dream‑like quality.

Taraval employs delicate pen lines to define architectural details and figures, while a muted watercolor palette creates a soft, atmospheric effect. A light gray wash overlays the scene, and the sky is rendered in a pale, almost translucent wash, lending the composition a calm, dream‑like quality. The blue border, also drawn in ink and watercolor, frames the image without distracting from the central view.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1780, the drawing reflects the neoclassical fascination with antiquity prevalent in late‑eighteenth‑century French art. It was later acquired by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, where it is held as part of the museum’s collection of European drawings and watercolors, illustrating Taraval’s engagement with Italianate motifs.