Mountains, Sea, and Sky (from Sketchbook VII) 1886

"Mountains, Sea, and Sky (from Sketchbook VII)" is a delicate pencil sketch by American artist William Trost Richards, executed in 1886. The small, intimate drawing, measuring just 5 x 7 1/2 inches, features a panoramic view of a coastline, with mountainous peaks rising in the distance and a choppy sea in the foreground. This work exemplifies Richards’ focus on the beauty and subtlety of nature, a hallmark of his Hudson River School affiliations. The piece, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, offers a glimpse into Richards’ creative process and his exploration of the natural world.