Denis's solidly constructed studies of clouds and hilly Italian landscapes washed in dusty light are irresistible, as are his "View on the Quirinal Hill, Rome" (1800) and "Fortified Wall, Italy" (c. 1786-1806), with their geometric architecture, bathed in afternoon sun, played against sky and foliage.
WSJ: Appealing to Modern Eyes | The Path of Nature | Metropolitan Museum of Art | By Karen Wilkin