Charles River, Cambridge, Massachusetts (from Sketchbook of New England and Pennsylvania Landscape and Marine Subjects) 1886

William Trost Richards's "Charles River, Cambridge, Massachusetts" from 1886 is a delicate graphite drawing that depicts a tranquil scene of the Charles River near Cambridge. Richards, known for his meticulous rendering of nature, captures the subtle details of the landscape, from the reflection of the trees in the water to the distant cityscape. The sketch, created while traveling through New England, reflects Richards's fascination with capturing the natural world in his art. The piece is a testament to the artist's ability to capture the quiet beauty of a landscape, and its small size reinforces the intimate nature of the scene.