Landscape (from McGuire Scrapbook) 1840

"Landscape (from McGuire Scrapbook)" is a graphite drawing on paper created in 1840 by James Smillie, a prominent American artist of the 19th century. This detailed sketch, currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, captures a serene woodland scene with a focus on a central tree and its gnarled branches reaching towards the sky. Smillie's meticulous attention to detail is evident in the delicate lines that define the tree's form and the subtle shading that suggests the play of light and shadow in the forest. This intimate work exemplifies Smillie's mastery of landscape drawing and offers a glimpse into the beauty of nature through his keen eye.