Artwork
Italian Buildings on a Hillside
Italian Buildings on a Hillside is a graphite drawing by the Baroque artist Joseph-Marie Vien. It dates from 1747 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Italian Buildings on a Hillside is a 1747 drawing by Joseph-Marie Vien, a French painter who later held the position of Premier peintre du Roi.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts a landscape with classical or rustic buildings on a hillside, surrounded by trees and bushes, and a winding river below. The scene reflects the mid-18th-century European interest in Italianate subjects.
Technique & Style
Executed in graphite on laid paper, the sketch features loose, quick lines and a limited black-and-white palette, characteristic of a rapid study. The style is consistent with the artistic practices of the Baroque period.
History & Provenance
Created in 1747, the drawing predates Vien's appointment as Premier peintre du Roi, which he held from 1789 to 1791.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Joseph-Marie Vien (18 June 1716 – 27 March 1809) was a French painter. He was the last holder of the post of Premier peintre du Roi, serving from 1789 to 1791, before it was abolished during the French Revolution.
View of the Prato of the Villa Borghese
Buildings behind the Vatican
Walls of Rome with Santa Maria del Popolo in the Distance
Ruins of the Imperial Palaces on the Palatine Hill
The Ponte Sant'Angelo and Houses on the East Bank of the Tiber
Casino Farnese on the Palatine Hill, Rome
Landscape in the Alban Hills