Nature/ Science Theme

Artist: Carlo Bossoli

Title: Balaklava

Medium: gouache with watercolor on paper laid on canvas

Date: 1857

Currently: The National Gallery of Art

Source: http://www.nga.gov

1. Description:

2. Analysis:

3. Interpretation:

4. Judgement:

In this painting there are many mountains and hills. There are some people making a fire and some hiking. There is moss growing on the sides of the mountains. There are cool and warm colors used in this painting.

In the positive space of this painting there is mountains which seems to have a castle on the top of it. In the negative space there is the blue majestic sky and a variety of clouds. There are cool colors of browns, blues and greens, and warm colors of light pink and yellow to show the sunlight in the mountains. In the painting, Bossoli used many organic shapes of mountains and cliffs.

Bossoli used the cool and warm colors to give a feeling of a distance outlook on the painting. The value of warm colors of the sunlight on the side of the mountains also give an impression that it is probably the morning. Bossoli used texture on the rocks to show that it is very uneven and rough. It looks like that painting's point of view was from higher ground because of the ominous outlook on the mountains

Bossoli was a very intelligent man and used his knowledge of history and nature to create his subject matter. I feel drawn into the work because I had to look very close to see the people. I think the artist has been suscesfull in communication the content.