Distant View of the Colosseum and Arch of Constantine, Rome

Distant View of the Colosseum and Arch of Constantine, Rome
Distant View of the Colosseum and Arch of Constantine, Rome
Distant View of the Colosseum and Arch of Constantine, Rome
National Galleries of Scotland / Photography by Antonia Reeve
title=Credit line
Artist
Richard Wilson (1713/14-1782)
Title
Distant View of the Colosseum and Arch of Constantine, Rome
Date
1752-56 (undated)
Medium
Black chalk and stump on grey paper, laid down
Dimensions
Metric: 128 x 190 mm
Imperial: 5 x 7 1/2 in.
Accession Number
D 4658
Wilson Online Reference
D277
Description
A view of the Colosseum, the left side in shadow, is framed by a large tree in the left foreground and a distant view of the Forum and Rome to the right. Two figures in antique costume are walking in discussion towards the viewer in the centre foreground and three others appear to the left under the tree. In the right foreground are a fragment of antique frieze and a smaller tree.
Exhibited
London 1916 (58 - Landscape Composition)
Provenance
Herbert Horne ; acquired by Edward Marsh, 1904; presented through the National Art-Collections Fund, 1953, from the collection of Sir Edward Marsh
Signature/inscription
Unsigned, no inscription
Labels
The artist's name and dates and the title of the work are inscribed on an early 20th century label which was presumably adhered to the verso and is now attached to its modern mount.
Subject
The Colosseum (72-80 AD) is seen from the north-east, with the Arch of Constantine (312-15 AD) in the middle distance to its right and beyond, further to the right, the Palatine Hill. The direction of the light indicates that the time is evening.
Related Drawings
D205 A View of the Colosseum, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Critical commentary
A slight compositional study from Wilson's period in Rome
Bibliography
Binyon 1916, p. 28; Baker 2011, p. 413
Condition/Conservation
Some disfiguration by foxing
Updated by Compiler
2021-03-18 00:00:00