Rays of Sunlight Striking a Woodland Pathc. 1815
Friedrich Salathé painted this in about 1815, aged 22. It is now at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. More about this work
About this work
The image shows a dense, forested area with towering trees. The composition leads the eye along a pathway into the distance, without a distinct horizon line. The intricate brushstrokes depict the texture and foliage of the trees, suggesting movement and light filtering through the leaves. The color palette is rich and earthy, with shades of green, brown, yellow, and orange, creating a vibrant yet tranquil atmosphere emphasizing light and shadow.
Description from the National Gallery of Art.
Friedrich Salathé painted this in about 1815, aged 22. It is now at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.
How it was made
- Watercolour
- Pigment in gum arabic, thinned with water and laid in transparent washes. Nothing white is painted: the light is the paper showing through.
- Graphite
- Pencil. Graphite has been used for drawing since the 1500s; in 1795 Nicolas-Jacques Conté mixed it with clay, so its hardness could be graded.
- Pen and ink
- Drawn with a quill or reed pen, often with wash added by brush to model light and shadow.
Friedrich Salathé
Swiss, 1793–1858
Rights and the museum’s record
Public domain. The National Gallery of Art has dedicated this image to the public domain under CC0, so anyone may copy, adapt and use it, for any purpose, without asking. Our prints and files are reproductions made from the museum’s image; the museum doesn’t endorse them.
- Object number
- 2007.111.32
- Credit
- Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
- Type
- Drawing
- Licence
- CC0 1.0 Universal
- Museum record
- See it on the museum’s site
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