Black ink perspective drawing of a courtyard with a square at the center. Three trees fill the foreground planted equidistantly in a row. They are seen at a slight angle with each tree appearing shorter giving the illusion of distance. The leaves are drawn in detail, each one distinct from the next with varied short black lines creating the illusion of light and dark. The leaves are so dense there is no definition in between the tops of the trees. The trees project dark shadows filling the left bottom corner. Seen through the tree trunks to the center of the courtyard is a circle of grass. It extends from the center to the right side of the drawing. Inside the grass is a square of stone slabs surrounding a short stone wall. Over two dozen trees continue in the background forming a square around the courtyard: the leaves forming a dense hedge like structure. The trees are planted in two rows evenly spaced forming a walkway. The leaves overhead create a shaded area.

There is one other image of this object. See our image rights statement.

See more objects with the tag perspective, trees, gardens, fountains, repetition, squares, minimalism, leaves, shadows, garden design.

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Object Timeline

1907	Work on this object began.
1917	Work on this object ended.
1991	We acquired this object.
2013	We photographed this object.
2015	We photographed this object.
2021	We exhibited this object.
2024	You found it!

Drawing, Cour Carrée (Courtyard Square)

This is a Drawing. It was designed by André Vera and Paul Vera. It is dated ca. 1912 and we acquired it in 1991. Its medium is pen and black ink, graphite on off-white paper. It is a part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design department.

It is credited Museum purchase from Smithsonian Institution Collections Acquisition Program Fund.

Print, Title Page, from Nouveaux Livre de Parterres (New Book of Garden Beds)

Print, Title Page, from Nouveaux Livre de Parterres (New Book of Garden Beds)
etching and engraving on white laid paper.
Museum purchase from General Acquisitions Endowment Fund.
1988-4-19

Its dimensions are

28.5 × 31.1 cm (11 1/4 × 12 1/4 in.) Image: 20.3 × 23 cm (8 in. × 9 1/16 in.) Mat: 35.6 × 45.7 cm (14 × 18 in.)

Cite this object as

Drawing, Cour Carrée (Courtyard Square); Designed by André Vera (French, active Paris, 1881–1971), Paul Vera (French, active Paris, 1882–1957); France; pen and black ink, graphite on off-white paper; 28.5 × 31.1 cm (11 1/4 × 12 1/4 in.) Image: 20.3 × 23 cm (8 in. × 9 1/16 in.) Mat: 35.6 × 45.7 cm (14 × 18 in.); Museum purchase from Smithsonian Institution Collections Acquisition Program Fund; 1991-58-3

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition The Modernist French Garden: Design by the Vera Brothers.

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/2Dw2B/
Accession Number 1991-58-3
Object ID 18636653