All Saints Church, Upper Norwood seen from the north side of Beulah Hill

All Saints Church, Upper Norwood seen from the north side of Beulah Hill by Camille Pissarro is a carefully observed drawing executed in graphite on china paper. Spanning the artist’s active career period (1845-1903), this work stands as a strong example of Pissarro’s rigorous preparatory draftsmanship. Although known primarily as a leading figure in Impressionism, Pissarro maintained a high standard for traditional drawing techniques, utilizing the delicate medium to map out structural forms and topographical details.

The subject focuses on the distinctive architecture of All Saints Church, a prominent structure in South London, viewed from the vantage point of Beulah Hill. Pissarro structures the composition by using intersecting sight lines provided by the winding Roads in the foreground, leading the viewer’s eye toward the imposing Church building. The scene is framed by a collection of Trees, whose varied textures are rendered through precise shading and line work, providing depth and contrast against the built environment. This specific suburban view reflects a moment of transition in nineteenth-century urban documentation.

This drawing is classified as a significant piece within the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Pissarro’s skill in establishing volume and aerial perspective solely through graphite confirms his mastery of foundational artistic disciplines. The clarity and detail achieved in this topographical study demonstrate why such drawings were integral to the artist’s process. Because many of Pissarro’s works are now considered part of the public domain, this drawing continues to reach a broad audience, with high-quality prints often sought after by collectors of modern masters.