Who created "Sketch from Nature"?

Sketch from Nature was created by Asher Brown Durand in ca. 1855.

When was "Sketch from Nature" created?

This artwork was created ca. 1855.

What medium is "Sketch from Nature"?

Sketch from Nature is Graphite on gray-green wove paper.

Is "Sketch from Nature" in the public domain?

Yes, Sketch from Nature is in the public domain and available for free download under CC0 license.

Sketch from Nature

Asher Brown Durand

ca. 1855

Medium

Graphite on gray-green wove paper

Dimensions

13 13/16 x 9 7/8 in. (35.1 x 25.1 cm)

Classification

Drawing

Culture

American

Department

The American Wing

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

Credit

Gift of Mrs. John Sylvester, 1936

Accession Number

36.63.1

Tags

Trees

Art Historical Context

Asher B. Durand's *Sketch from Nature* (ca. 1855) captures the essence of mid-19th-century American landscape art, a hallmark of the Hudson River School movement, which Durand helped pioneer. As a leading advocate for direct observation of the natural world, Durand urged artists to sketch outdoors rather than rely solely on studio imagination, emphasizing truthful representation of America's wilderness. This graphite drawing on gray-green wove paper—measuring 13 13/16 x 9 7/8 inches—likely served as a preparatory study, showcasing his meticulous eye for tree forms and foliage textures, as hint...

About the Artist

Asher Brown Durand · 1796–1886

Was a principal member of the Hudson River School. American artist; associated with the Hudson River School of landscape painting. Comment on works: Portraits

Sketch from Nature

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