Arch of Drusus near the Appian Way
1744/1750
Medium
graphite on laid paper
Dimensions
sheet: 11.4 x 18 cm (4 1/2 x 7 1/16 in.) page size: 42.5 x 27.7 cm (16 3/4 x 10 7/8 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Mark J. Millard Architectural Collection
Accession Number
1983.49.160
Art Historical Context
Step into the timeless allure of ancient Rome through Joseph-Marie Vien's delicate drawing *Arch of Drusus near Appian Way* (1744/1750). This graphite sketch on laid paper captures the weathered grandeur of a lesser-known triumphal arch dedicated to Drusus the Elder, located along the historic Appian Way—the ancient road stretching south from Rome. At just 11.4 x 18 cm, the intimate sheet invites close inspection, revealing Vien's precise lines that evoke the monument's sturdy arches and inscriptions amid overgrown ruins. Created during Vien's formative years in Italy, the work reflects the 1...
About the Artist
Joseph-Marie Vien · 1716–1809
Joseph-Marie Vien (1716–1809) was born on 18 June in Montpellier, France, into a modest family, emerging as a child prodigy in painting. As a protégé of the Comte de Caylus, he entered the studio of Charles-Joseph Natoire at an early age, honing his skills in history painting. Winning the prestigious Prix de Rome in 1743, Vien traveled to Italy in 1744, spending six formative years in Rome studyin...