In this column, “The Masters’ Thread,” artists share their thoughts about how one master’s piece inspires their current work.
This watercolor by Jean Honoré Fragonard (1732–1806), “Capriccio: Excavation of Roman Ruins,” on view at The Met, is an exquisite example of draftsmanship. The imaginary scene is set alongside the remains of a temple, with a curved entablature and Corinthian columns.
I was initially drawn by its strong graphic impact and striking contrast. From a distance, I can see a full range of values—the varied warm and cool hues that Fragonard used to design this composition. I notice how often the dark accents appear and also where the warm and cool hues best contribute to the overall effect of the picture. He reserved the warmest hues for the foreground and the coolest for the background, as is often the case.
