Good Harbor Beach, Cape Ann, Massachusetts
ca. 1871 or 1873
Medium
Graphite on tan wove paper
Dimensions
10 1/8 x 14 9/16 in. (25.7 x 37 cm)
Classification
Drawing
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Walter Knight Sturges, 1977
Accession Number
1977.380
Tags
Art Historical Context
William Trost Richards, a 19th-century American artist associated with the Hudson River School, captured the rugged beauty of Good Harbor Beach on Cape Ann, Massachusetts, this delicate graphite drawing from around 1871 or 1873. Known for his meticulous depictions of nature, Richards often sketched coastal scenes during his travels along New England's shores, emphasizing the interplay of light, texture, and form in landscapes that evoke a sense of serene power. Rendered on tan wove paper—a sturdy, textured support ideal for detailed studies—the artwork measures 10 1/8 x 14 9/16 inches and sho...
About the Artist
William Trost Richards · 1833–1905
William Trost Richards (1833–1905) was a prominent American landscape and marine painter born in Philadelphia, where he attended Central High School before beginning his artistic training. Between 1850 and 1855, he studied part-time under the German-born Hudson River School artist Paul Weber while working as a designer and illustrator of ornamental metalwork. He exhibited his first works at the Pe...