Ruins in a Mountainous Country
n.d.
Medium
Charcoal on blue laid paper, laid down on ivory laid paper, laid down on ivory laid paper (2 layers)
Dimensions
13.4 × 20.2 cm (5 5/16 × 8 in.)
Classification
charcoal
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
83626
Art Historical Context
Richard Wilson (1713–1782), a pioneering Welsh artist often called the father of British landscape painting, created this evocative study during the height of the 18th-century Grand Tour era. His works frequently depicted classical ruins amid dramatic natural settings, blending observed topography with idealized Italianate scenery inspired by Claude Lorrain and Salvator Rosa. "Ruins in a Mountainous Country" captures this romantic sensibility, inviting viewers to reflect on the passage of time and the enduring power of nature. Executed in charcoal on blue laid paper, the drawing demonstrates ...