The Forno inside the Walls of the Vatican

Joseph-Marie Vien

National Gallery of Art

The image shows a pencil sketch of an urban landscape from an elevated viewpoint. It features buildings with sloped roofs and a tower in the distance. The horizon is high, with rooftops extending towards the edge of the scene, creating depth. The sketch has light lines defining forms, while shading and texture are added with denser hatching, especially in the foreground. The drawing is monochromatic, using shades of gray for a simple, elegant look. The lines have a soft, fluid quality, indicating an observational style.