Study of a Group of Trees

The Study of a Group of Trees is a profound drawing by Nicolas Poussin, executed between approximately 1620 and 1655. This piece, classified as a preparatory drawing, utilizes pen and brown ink, showcasing the artist’s methodical approach to rendering natural forms. Poussin, a key figure in 17th-century French classicism who spent most of his career in Rome, rarely drew directly from nature after leaving France, making his detailed structural studies of trees and foliage highly important documentation of his working method. The drawing functions less as an expressive sketch and more as a structural investigation, where the artist uses varied linework to differentiate the dense texture of the leaves from the solid, sculptural quality of the trunks.

Although celebrated primarily for his complex historical narratives and idealized landscapes, Poussin relied on preparatory drawings like this to construct a versatile visual vocabulary of natural elements. Such meticulous observations of trees allowed him to build the intellectually rigorous and classically balanced settings necessary for his grand compositions. The artist employs controlled hatching and cross-hatching to define shadow and volume, ensuring that these studies could be readily incorporated into his larger finished works, often combining classical architecture with robust groupings of trees. This essential study remains a significant asset within the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, offering critical insight into the technical methods of this Baroque master. High-quality prints of this work are available, particularly as the image enters the public domain, ensuring its continued availability for scholars and enthusiasts of drawing.