Studies of Coats of Arms for the Landing of Columbus (from Sketchbook)
Original title: Studies of Coats of Arms for the Landing of Columbus (from Sketchbook)
kurzbeschreibung
Several coat-of-arms designs take center stage in this graphite sketch by Albert Bierstadt, made around 1891 and taken from a sketchbook. It was probably a preparatory study for a painting of the landing of Columbus. The shields were put on paper quickly and loosely.
Description
In the foreground single coats of arms line up one after another, separated by a line or an arrow. Behind them further shields group into a larger, connected pattern. Everything stays black and white, sketchy in handling, with a few inscriptions and notes added. Gilt edges and a leather binding enclose the sheets.
Context
The studies probably grew out of a planned painting of the landing of Columbus, which Bierstadt carried out in his later years. The sketchbook belongs to this late phase, when he turned increasingly to historical subjects. The coats of arms likely allude to the Spanish monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella, who supported the expedition. Bierstadt was known as a member of the Hudson River School, and later took up other subjects as well.
Impact
Restrained lines and the clear row of shields give the sheet a quiet, deliberate mood. Sketchy passages and precise details sit side by side and make the intimate atmosphere of a working process palpable. The drawing thus offers a look into the artistic planning of a historical theme.
Technique
The work is executed in graphite on toned wove paper, finished with gilt edges and bound in a leather cover. Fine lines and hatching outline the shield forms. The technique follows the usual practice of late nineteenth-century sketchbook studies.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)