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Ruined Castle and Trees

ca. 1762
Not on view
This quickly sketched view of a ruined castle with a vegetated foreground and possibly trees is an example of Cozens’s technique of "blotting." To create this drawing, Cozens laid down a faint wash first, which has mottled over time, and then further defined the image with black ink. Cozens used this technique primarily to create imaginary landscape views, but in this case the composition was inspired by a real place: the Tomb of Caecilia Metella, a 1st century BC mausoleum on the Via Appia just outside the city of Rome. The crenellated brick wall of the ruined castle depicted here was added sometime between the 11th and 14th century. In 1762, Cozens exhibited an oil painting of the same subject, though this is lost today.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Ruined Castle and Trees
  • Artist: Alexander Cozens (British, Russia 1717–1786 London)
  • Date: ca. 1762
  • Medium: Graphite, brush and black ink, gray and brown wash; laid down on original paper mount with gray wash
  • Dimensions: Sheet: 10 1/2 × 16 3/4 in. (26.6 × 42.6 cm)
    Mount: 15 1/8 in. × 20 7/8 in. (38.4 × 53.1 cm)
  • Classification: Drawings
  • Credit Line: Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1930
  • Object Number: 30.49.11
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

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Sycamore, Thorn, Walnut and Willow (from The Shape, Skeleton and Foliage of Thirty two Species of Trees. For the Use of Painting and Drawing)
Alexander Cozens
1771
Pollard-Willow, Weeping-Willow, Pollard Weeping-Willow and Yew (from The Shape, Skeleton and Foliage of Thirty two Species of Trees. For the Use of Painting and Drawing)
Alexander Cozens
1771
Elder, Larch-Fir, Scotch-Fir and Spruce or Norway Fir (from The Shape, Skeleton and Foliage of Thirty two Species of Trees. For the Use of Painting and Drawing)
Alexander Cozens
1771
Lime, Holly, Laburnum and Laurel (from The Shape, Skeleton and Foliage of Thirty two Species of Trees. For the Use of Painting and Drawing)
Alexander Cozens
1771
Oak, Pollard-Oak, Palm and Italian Pine (from The Shape, Skeleton and Foliage of Thirty two Species of Trees. For the Use of Painting and Drawing)
Alexander Cozens
1771

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