Landscape with Trees and Encampment (from Sketchbook X)

Art Historical Context

William Trost Richards, a prominent 19th-century American artist known for his meticulous landscapes, created *Landscape with Trees and Encment (from Sketchbook)* in 1885. This intimate graphite drawing on off-white wove paper measures just 5 x 7½ inches, capturing a serene natural scene with towering trees and a subtle human encampment. As part of his extensive sketchbooks, it reflects Richards' passion for direct observation of nature, honed during sketching trips that informed his larger oil paintings and watercolors. Richards drew inspiration from the Hudson River School tradition but infused his work with Pre-Raphaelite precision, emphasizing fine details in foliage and light effects. The graphite medium allowed for subtle tonal variations on the textured wove paper, ideal for quick yet evocative studies. Produced late in his career, this piece highlights his lifelong dedication to plein air sketching, bridging Romanticism and emerging Realism in American art. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing, this drawing offers visitors a glimpse into an artist's process—where everyday encampments amid grand trees become portals to 1880s pastoral life. A testament to Richards' enduring influence, it invites contemplation of nature's quiet drama.

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...