Who created "View of the Colosseum"?

View of the Colosseum was created by Joseph Marie Vien in ca. 1744–50.

When was "View of the Colosseum" created?

This artwork was created ca. 1744–50.

What medium is "View of the Colosseum"?

View of the Colosseum is Black and white chalk on blue antique laid paper.

Is "View of the Colosseum" in the public domain?

Yes, View of the Colosseum is in the public domain and available for free download under CC0 license.

View of the Colosseum

Joseph Marie Vien

ca. 1744–50

Medium

Black and white chalk on blue antique laid paper

Dimensions

11 3/4 x 18 1/16 in. (29.8 x 45.9 cm.)

Classification

Drawings

Department

Drawings and Prints

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

Credit

Harry G. Sperling Fund, 2003

Accession Number

2003.324

Tags

Architecture

Art Historical Context

Joseph Marie Vien's *View of the Colosse*, created around 1744–50, captures the majestic ruins of Rome's iconic amphitheater in a drawing executed in black and white chalk on antique laid paper. Measuring just under 12 by 18 inches, this intimate study showcases Vien's keen eye for architectural grandeur during his formative years in Italy. As a young French artist on the Grand Tour—a rite of passage for 18th-century European creatives—this sketch reflects the era's fascination with classical antiquity, where ruins like the Colosseum symbolized the enduring legacy of ancient Rome. Vien, a piv...

About the Artist

Joseph Marie Vien · 1716–1809

Baroque painter and one of the earliest French painters to work in the Neo-classical style. He influenced some of the most prominent artists of heroic Neo-classicism, including his students Jacques-Louis David, Jean-Baptiste Regnault, Jean-François-Pierre Peyron, and Joseph-Benoît Suvée. Comment on works: History

View of the Colosseum

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