Campagniolo romano
c. 1833
Medium
watercolor over graphite on laid paper from a ledger book (ruled in red)
Dimensions
sheet: 27.8 x 42.7 cm (10 15/16 x 16 13/16 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Wolfgang Ratjen Collection, Purchased as the Gift of Andrea Woodner
Accession Number
2007.111.22
Art Historical Context
Friedrich Nerly’s “Campagniolo romano,” created around 1833, captures the quiet beauty of the Roman countryside during a period when many European artists traveled to Italy in search of inspiration. The title evokes the rolling landscapes and ancient ruins of the Campagna, a region that held deep romantic appeal for 19th-century travelers. Rendered in delicate watercolor washes over graphite, the drawing reflects the era’s fascination with direct observation of nature and atmospheric effects. The choice of support is especially intriguing: Nerly worked on laid paper taken from a ledger book, ...