View of the Summer Palace Yuen Min Yuen, Pekin, Showing the Pagoda Before the Burning, October 1860

Felice Beato

National Gallery of Art

The image shows a landscape with an ornate pagoda dominating the right side of the scene. In the background, there are low mountains, gently sloping towards the horizon. The color palette is muted and sepia-toned, giving a historical feel. The pagoda's intricate architecture is visible, with decorative layers contrasting with the blurry foliage in the foreground. Modest buildings are scattered amongst trees in the distance.