Seascape with an Approaching Storm (from Sketchbook VII)

Art Historical Context

William Trost Richards' *Seascape with an Approaching*, from Sketchbook VII (1886), is a captivating preparatory drawing that distills the drama of nature's fury into a modest 5 x 7½ inch sheet of off-white wove paper Rendered in black ink and graphite, depicts turbulent waves and a brooding sky, evoking the sublime power of the sea just before a storm breaks. As part of Richards' extensive sketchbooks, this intimate work reveals his on-the-spot observation of coastal scenes, a hallmark of his lifelong passion for marine subjects. Richards, a prominent American artist of the late 19th century, drew from the Hudson River School tradition, emphasizing meticulous detail and atmospheric luminosity in his landscapes and seascapes. Here, the fluid ink lines and subtle graphite shading capture dynamic motion and shifting light, showcasing his technical precision in a portable medium ideal for plein air studies. These sketches often served as foundations for his larger oils, bridging raw nature to polished canvases. Acquired by The Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing in 1992, this piece highlights the era's Romantic reverence for untamed wilderness, inviting visitors to ponder humanity's place amid elemental forces.

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...