Sketch Book for the Artist

EARTH

AND

THE

ELEMENTS

Nature Profiles

THE PROFILE OF A HORIZON is a line we immediately recognize

and respond to. Whether land-, sea-, or cityscape, it is the

unique calligraphic signature of the place in which we stand.

Claude Lorrain drew directly on location, and we can imagine

standing over his shoulder, watching his hand and eye at

work together, rapidly layering contours to shape place,

atmosphere, and mood simultaneously. Even distilled from

all other detail, a horizon line can trigger our recognition.

Opposite below, Clare Bryan took panoramic photographs of

the English South Downs, and after tracing her captured

line, transferred it to a scroll. Drawing with a scalpel, she

teased away fragments of paper to illuminate her view. In

a very different work (opposite above), made inside a book,

Bryan cut the profile of a city. She was inspired by her

research of aerial plans of London and the story of an

alien map butterfly (see caption).

CLAUDE LORRAIN

French classical landscape painter draftsman, and

etcher who lived most of his life in 17th-century

Rome. Claude is distinguished by, and famed for,

his unsurpassed handling of light, which he used

to unify his compositions.

Segments The top half of the drawing is a view as we enter the

valley. Claude has used a fine nib to delineate segments of land as

they recede into space. In the lower half he has walked downhill

a little, and across to the right. Over first lines, rich, thick, and dry

marks in the foreground appear to be made with his finger. Paler,

cooler tones receding into the distance are applied with a brush.

Views from Velletri

c.1638

85 / 8 x 12^1 / 2 in (219 x 320 mm)

CLAUDE LORRAIN