Ruins, with a Statue on the Left

About this artwork

Giovanni Paolo Panini’s *Ruins, with a Statue the Left* (ca. 1728) captures the timeless allure of ancient Rome through the artist’s expert hand. Panini (1691–1765), a leading Italian painter and architect, Rome’s premier *vedutista*, renowned for his *vedute*— cityscapes—and *capricci*, imaginative assemblages of classical ruins. This intimate drawing, from the Robert Lehman Collection at Metropolitan Museum of Art, the 18th-century Enlightenment passion for antiquity, blending documentary accuracy with romantic fantasy. Crafted in pen and brown ink heightened with gray, brown, blue, green, and yellow washes, the work measures just 7½ x 10⅞ inches, showcasing Panini’s finesse in rendering architectural details alongside atmospheric depth. The prominent statue on the left anchors the composition, while crumbling ruins evoke a sense of poignant decay, drawing viewers into a picturesque world that fueled the Grand Tour era. Travelers and scholars cherished such pieces as both faithful records of Rome’s archaeological wonders and evocative art objects. Panini’s innovative style bridged reality and imagination, influencing generations of artists and collectors across Europe and immortalizing the Eternal City’s faded glory for modern audiences.