Wooded Landscape (from Sketchbook VII)

Art Historical Context

William Trost Richards created this delicate "Wooded Landscape" in 1886 as part of Sketchbook VII. Executed in graphite on off-white wove paper, the small drawing measures only 5 by 7½ inches, allowing the artist to capture the quiet textures of trees and foliage with precise, economical lines. As an American work now in the Metropolitan Museum’s American Wing, it reflects the 19th-century interest in recording the natural world through portable sketchbooks. The graphite medium lends itself to subtle tonal gradations and fine detail, making it perfect for on-site studies that often served as the foundation for larger studio paintings. Richards’ focus on a simple wooded scene underscores the period’s appreciation for intimate encounters with nature rather than grand vistas. Acquired in 1992 through gifts in memory of Stephen D. Rubin, the sketch offers today’s visitors a personal glimpse into an artist’s working method and the enduring appeal of American landscape drawing.

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...