View of the Acqua Acetosa (recto); David and Goliath (verso)

View of the Acqua Acetosa (recto); David and Goliath (verso) by Claude Lorrain is a complex double-sided drawing executed in pen and brown ink and brush and brown wash over graphite, featuring framing lines in brown ink. Created between 1640 and 1650, this sheet exemplifies the sketching techniques of the French Baroque master, combining precise graphite underdrawing with dynamic washes to create atmosphere and form. The recto depicts the Fountain of the Acqua Acetosa in Rome, a landmark structure frequently sketched by artists visiting the city. Lorrain, known globally for his idealized landscapes and profound attention to light, uses the careful application of brown wash to establish deep shadows and receding spatial planes, accurately capturing the rural periphery of Rome where he primarily worked throughout his career.

The verso, featuring the dramatic biblical subject of David and Goliath, provides important insight into Lorrain’s methods for developing narrative compositions. Though primarily celebrated for his pure landscape art, Lorrain often practiced figure drawing, utilizing rapid sketches like this one to hone dramatic narrative poses before translating them into larger oils. This drawing classification, integral to the art culture of 17th-century France, is a vital resource for understanding the artist’s process before he created commissioned prints. Today, this significant work is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, and due to its historical importance, high-quality reference prints are often made available through public domain initiatives.