A Reconstruction of the Arch of Septimius Severus
before 1704
Medium
Red chalk, pen and black ink, brush and gray wash. On two sheets of paper joined at center
Dimensions
14 1/2 x 17 15/16 in. (36.8 x 45.6 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Helen and János Scholz, 1958
Accession Number
58.648.2(43)
Tags
Art Historical Context
Jan Goeree's *A Reconstruction of the Arch Septimius Severus*, before 1704, a meticulous 17th-century vision of one of ancient Rome's most iconic monuments. The Dutch artist and architect, known for his precise renderings of classical antiquities, captured the triumphal arch built around 203 AD to honor Emperor Septimius Severus military victories over the Parthians. Erected at the end of the Via Sacra in the Roman Forum, the real arch—adorned with intricate reliefs of men, horses, and battle scenes—still stands today, a testament to imperial grandeur. Goeree's drawing reflects the era's growi...
About the Artist
Jan Goeree · 1670–1731
Comment on works: Painter; Draughtsman; Engraver; History; Subjects in landscapes