View of Nepi

The detailed landscape drawing, View of Nepi, was executed by Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot (French, 1796-1875) in 1826. This period marks Corot's crucial first sojourn in Italy (1825-1828), where he devoted himself to intensive study of light and structure through direct observation of the landscape. Unlike the finished studio paintings he would later produce, this work serves as an intimate and immediate record of topography and architectural detail, captured during his travels in the countryside near Rome.

Classified strictly as a drawing, this preparatory piece utilizes graphite applied precisely on off-white wove paper. Corot employs sharp, defined lines to delineate the clustered architecture of the Italian hill town of Nepi and the surrounding, often rugged, terrain. The modest medium of graphite enabled the artist to quickly capture shifting atmospheric effects and shadows, focusing intensely on structural clarity and tonal relationships without the complexity of oil paint. This rigorous study of classical form and composition was typical of his foundational Italian studies, helping to establish the formal discipline that would characterize his career upon his return to France.

The intensive outdoor practice seen in this drawing was foundational to Corot’s development, guiding his transition from neoclassical academic principles toward naturalistic plein air painting. Corot’s commitment to direct observation solidified his reputation as a master draftsman. This historically significant work, exemplifying the artist's dedication to architectural precision and classical landscape ideals, as seen vividly in the View of Nepi, is preserved in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.