Chaucer's Tower Near Benham 1806

Antoine Philippe d'Orléans made "Chaucer's Tower Near Benham" in 1806 with pen and black ink, and graphite on paper. The artist’s hand is evident through the subtle, controlled application of ink and graphite. D'Orléans captured the rough, aged texture of the tower, and the surrounding verdant landscape through the precise strokes of the pen, and the use of graphite to suggest depth and shadow. Landscape drawing like this reflects the romanticism of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. There was growing interest in ruins, seen as emblems of a lost past. This aesthetic interest coincided with social changes; old feudal structures were being replaced by new industrial economies. D'Orléans, as a member of the aristocracy, surely would have had complex feelings about this transition. Examining the materials, making, and historical context allows us to understand how the artist saw his world, challenging any strict divide between fine art and craft.