A massive aqueduct spans a river valley, its arches catching the fading light of evening as the sun sets behind distant mountains. To the left, a ruined stone tower rises, crowned by a windswept pine whose branches stretch into the glowing sky. Below, the river flows calmly between rocky banks, reflecting the warm tones of the sky and the cool shadows cast by the surrounding cliffs.

Near the lower edge, two figures stand at the water’s edge: one upright, holding a staff and wearing a red head covering, the other seated or crouching close by. A third figure is visible in the water nearby, appearing to swim or wade in the shallows. Further back, a cluster of buildings with tall towers and cypress trees nestles against the rocky hillside, leading the eye upward toward a fortress-like structure perched atop the mountain.

The sky above is dramatic, with dark storm clouds gathering to the right, contrasting with the glowing orange and yellow light that fills the left side of the canvas. Géricault uses sweeping brushstrokes to capture the shifting light and turbulent atmosphere, while areas of fine detail describe the ancient stones, delicate foliage, and rippling water. The composition is carefully balanced, with the vertical mass of the ruined tower and pine on the left offset by the receding lines of the aqueduct and the jagged forms of the mountains.

The color scheme moves from the deep greens and browns of the foreground rocks to the luminous golds and blues of the sky, creating a sense of depth and mood. Paint is applied in broad, expressive areas for the sky and water, while the architecture and figures are rendered with more precision.