Italian Landscape with Umbrella Pines, Jean Honoré Fragonard, 1773 - 1775
Born in southern France and trained in Italy, Fragonard was sensitive to a southern atmosphere. This is masterfully shown here, the golden light of Italy suggested by areas of untouched cream paper. Fragonard rendered the hazy distance of the background with shades of pale brown wash, while accentuating the foreground with undiluted brown ink.