Forum of Nerva, entablature, elevation; cornice, elevation (recto) Forum of Nerva, architrave panel, ceiling plan, Corinthian, capital (verso)
early to mid-16th century
Medium
Dark brown ink, black chalk, and incised lines
Dimensions
sheet: 11 9/16 x 17 3/8 in. (29.3 x 44.2 cm)
Classification
Drawings|Ornament & Architecture
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Rogers Fund, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, and Mark J. Millard Gift, 1968
Accession Number
68.769.10
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite 16th-century drawing, created by an anonymous French artist, captures intricate details of the ancient Forum of Nerva in Rome. On the recto side, it presents elevations of the entablature cornice, showcasing the harmonious proportions of classical Roman design. The verso features an architrave panel a ceiling plan, and a finely rendered Corinthian capital—hallmarks of imperial architecture from the 1st century AD. Executed in dark brown ink, black chalk and incised lines on sheet measuring 11 9/16 x 17 3/8 inches, this work exemplifies the precision of Renaissance draftsmanship....