View of the "Palazzo Maggiore" on the Palatine Hill, Rome
Jan de Bisschop, mid 17th century
About this artwork
Step into the sunlit ruins of ancient Rome with Jan de Bisschop's *View of the "Pal Maggiore" on the Pal Hill, Rome*, a delicate mid-17th-century now housed in the Metropolitan Museum Art's Department of Drawings and Prints. during the Baroque era, when European artists flocked to Italy to study classical antiquity, this work captures the evocative decay of the Palatine Hill of Rome's seven hills and the birthplace of the city, dotted with imperial palaces and overgrown streets. De Bisschop, a Dutch draughtsman known for his precise architectural renderings, invites us to ponder the grandeur that once stood amid these weathered ruins. Executed on a modest sheet (just 3 3/4 x 6 3/16 inches), the drawing employs a layered technique: black chalk underdrawing for initial outlines, followed by pen and brown ink for crisp lines, and brush with brown wash for subtle shading and depth. Framing lines in pen and brown ink neatly enclose the composition, highlighting its status as a finished study rather than a mere sketch. This meticulous method reflects the period's fascination with topography and antiquity, blending technical virtuosity with nostalgic reverence for Rome's past. As an anonymous gift to the Met in 2005, this gem offers visitors a window into 17th-century artistic travel and the enduring allure of ruins—symbols of time's passage and humanity's ambition. Perfect for contemplating how a small drawing preserves big history!