39 - E. BRETENIÈRES (*1804), View from the Château de Valère near Sion, 1859, Pencil

E. BRETENIÈRES (*1804), View from the Château de Valère near Sion, 1859, Pencil Edmond de Bretenières (1804 Dijon - 1882 ibid.): View from the Château de Valère near Sion (Sion) in the canton of Valais, Journey to Switzerland, Sketchbook, 1859, Pencil Technique: Pencil on Paper, mounted on Paper Date: 1859 Description: From a scrapbook with travel sketches by the artist. "Esquisses faites par le Baron Edmond de Bretenières feudant les voyages en Suisse" (Sketches made by Baron Edmond de Bretenieres during his travels in Switzerland). This drawing shows an expansive landscape with rolling hills and a mountain range in the background. The line of the horizon is slightly wavy and gives the composition depth. A curved path or river runs in the foreground, directing the viewer's gaze into the depths of the picture. The mountains are sketchily indicated, suggesting that the scene was captured quickly and spontaneously. There are no figures or buildings to distract the eye, which draws attention to the natural beauty of the landscape. The light is homogeneously distributed, without conspicuous shadows or highlights, which lends the scene a calm, balanced atmosphere. Keywords: Landscape; mountains; hills; path; river; horizon; drawing; sketchy; nature; depth; light; peace; simplicity; spontaneity; lines; composition; natural beauty; atmosphere; distance; harmony; 19th century; Romanticism; Landscape; Switzerland; Size: Paper: 23,7 cm x 31,0 cm (9,3 x 12,2 in) Condition: Good condition. Sheet corners clearly wavy due to mounting on the reverse. Brownish grease stain on the right edge. Vertical trace of liquid in the center. Pale staining in places.