Built on the ruins of a 12th century fortress, Pierrefonds Castle is hidden in the forest of Compiègne near the Oise River. It was renovated in the middle of the 19th century by famous architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. Camille Corot visited the castle many times. The silhouette of the medieval structures in the far background looms like an old reminiscence. Two characters in medieval clothes add a flavor of romanticism to the scene. However, the focal point of the art work is the landscape, rendered with subtle transitions between greenish, blueish, and golden hues with a dash of white. In the history of art, Camille Corot has long been known as a master of the “mood-setting” landscape.