A View from the Palatine Hill, Rome, the Alban Hills in the Distance
c. 1775
Medium
Watercolor, over graphite, on ivory laid paper, laid down on white laid paper, folded
Dimensions
Primary support, folded: 31.1 × 53.1 cm (12 1/4 × 20 15/16 in.); Primary support, unfolded: 37.4 × 53.1 cm (14 3/4 × 20 15/16 in.); Secondary support, folded: 33.8 × 63.1 cm (13 5/16 × 24 7/8 in.); Secondary support, unfolded: 41.3 × 63.1 cm (16 5/16 × 24 7/8 in.)
Classification
paper
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
215328
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
From a group of recently discovered watercolors, this sweeping view from the Palatine Hill renders the topography of Rome in a cool but fresh color palette. Working en plein air (outdoors, looking at the scene), Labruzzi was a leader for foreign watercolorists in Italy. This panorama is one of the broadest and most spontaneous of the many views that he made of the Appian Way, the ancient paved route from Rome to the Adriatic Sea.