A Reconstruction of the Thermae of Novitian (above) and a View of the Ruins (below)
before 1704
Medium
Pen and black ink, brush and brown wash, red chalk, over traces of black chalk
Dimensions
13 1/16 x 8 -1/8 in. (33.2 x 20.6 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(10)
Tags
Art Historical Context
Jan Goeree’s drawing presents a fascinating juxtaposition of imagination and observation. The upper section reconstructs the grand Thermae of Novitian, an ancient Roman bath complex, with soaring vaults, columns, and ornate details that evoke its former splendor. Below, Goeree records the actual ruins in a more restrained manner, showing crumbling walls overtaken by trees and vegetation. This dual view reflects the 17th- and 18th-century fascination with classical antiquity, when European artists and scholars sought to revive and understand Rome’s architectural legacy. Executed in pen and bla...
About the Artist
Jan Goeree · 1670–1731
Comment on works: Painter; Draughtsman; Engraver; History; Subjects in landscapes