Sketchbook

This rare sketchbook, preserved intact, was made in Italy in 1650 by a Dutch artist who specialized in landscapes. It is a valuable resource for learning about the artistic practice of northern artists who traveled to Italy in the seventeenth century. It includes 53 drawings of Roman buildings, landscapes, and animals, which were done from live observation. In the drawing shown here at the top, the artist has used pencil to create the image, while in the bottom example he has covered his initial pencil sketch with brown wash, creating strong areas of light and shade. In both works, the artist captures the foreground buildings-one from a more classical, the other a more contemporary architectural style-but also subtly creates a view to a distant landscape. A sketchbook such as this would have been used by the artist throughout his career to plan larger works, and in the case of von Bemmel, was also a known resource for his flourishing studio back in Holland.