Landscape near Rome; verso: Fountain

Art Historical Context

This exquisite 17th-century drawing, created by an anonymous Dutch artist captures a serene *Landscape near Rome* on the recto, featuring lush trees and rolling terrain evocative of the Roman countryside. Flipped over, the verso reveals a detailed *Fountain*, showcasing the artist's versatility in rendering architectural elements. At just 4¼ x 6½ inches, its intimate scale suggests it was a personal sketchbook study, ideal for an artist traveling or working en plein air during the Dutch Golden Age. The medium—pen and brown ink with and brown wash over faint black chalk underdrawing—exemplifies Northern European draftsmanship of the period. The precise ink lines define forms, while subtle washes add depth and atmospheric shadow, mimicking the play of Mediterranean light on foliage and stone. Framing lines in ink hint at its preparation for framing or album inclusion, a common practice for treasured topographic views. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (gift of Harold K. Hochschild, 1940), this double-sided gem reflects the era's Dutch wanderlust for Italy's dramatic landscapes. It offers visitors a window into 17th-century artistic exploration, blending observation with poetic evocation of nature and antiquity.