Photographed by Scott Wolff. Captured from a digital file.

Two Rocky Seascapes

Artist William Trost Richards (American, 1833-1905)

Dateca. 1890s

MediumGraphite on wove paper

DimensionsOverall: 5 1/4 x 8 in. (13.3 x 20.3 cm)

ClassificationsAmerican art

Credit LineGift of Edith Ballinger Price

Object number94.24.86

Terms

Gray

On View

Not on view

DescriptionThis is a pencil on paper sketch of two coastal scenes, approximately 4 x 3-1/2 inches each. The scene on the left shows a rocky cliff at right with crashing waves against the lower rocks. The second image depicts a wider cliff, extending into half the image, with a large shadow. The waves are rolling with less clouds in the sky in the right image. Both scenes are outlined in pencil, creating a margin.

Label TextTwo Rocky Seascapes, ca. 1890s Graphite on wove paper Two Seascapes, ca. 1890s Graphite on wove paper These small sketches, blocked off in pairs, suggest that Richards often viewed the landscape with large, finished compositions in mind. Studies in graphite, ink, and watercolor trained his eyes and hands in the representation of the waves and rocks, but composition and balance were equally important to the success of each image. Gifts of Edith Ballinger Price 94.24.86 and .87