View of the Cascades at Tivoli

Art Historical Context

Visitors to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department are treated to *View of the Cascades atoli* by Nicolas Delobel, captivating landscape drawing from around 1724–33. Delobel, a French artist in Italy during the early 18th century, captured the dramatic waterfalls and surrounding architecture of Tivoli's renowned gardens, a highlight of the Roman countryside. This site, with its cascading waters and historic buildings, drew countless Grand Tour travelers and artists seeking to document Italy's natural and man-made wonders. Crafted on a modest sheet measuring 13¼ × 9 inches, the work masterfully employs a rich mixed-media technique: black and red chalk for subtle modeling, pen and brown ink for precise lines, brush and brown wash for atmospheric depth, and watercolor with gouache for vibrant color accents. This combination allowed Delobel to evoke the shimmering movement of water and the textured stone of buildings, blending topographic accuracy with artistic flourish typical of 18th-century veduta-style drawings. Acquired through the Ian Woodner Family Collection Fund and The Elisha Whittelsey Collection in 2017, this piece reflects the era's fascination with Italy's picturesque landscapes. It offers a window into Rococo-era travel culture, where such detailed studies served as cherished souvenirs for Europe's elite collectors, preserving the ephemeral beauty of Tivoli's cascades for generations.