Flusslandschaft mit weidender Herde, im Mittelgrund eine Brücke und die Ruine eines Monopteros 

Franz Kobell made this drawing of a river landscape with pen and brown ink in Germany in the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century. It encapsulates the period’s fascination with the picturesque. The artist has carefully composed this image of the natural world and its landmarks. The drawing presents a romantic view of the countryside, emphasizing the harmony between nature and classical architecture. Note the ruined monopteros, a circular colonnade building, that is reminiscent of ancient temples, and the herd of cattle in the foreground that adds a sense of pastoral tranquility. The composition reflects the influence of the Enlightenment and its emphasis on reason and order. The presence of the ruin also evokes a sense of history and the passage of time. To understand this artwork more fully, we can turn to historical studies of garden design, the fashion for ‘Capability’ Brown style landscapes among the aristocracy, and other resources that reveal the cultural values of the period.