Who painted Grabmal der Cecilia Metella?

Grabmal der Cecilia Metella was painted by Andrea Locatelli in 1720.

Where can I see Grabmal der Cecilia Metella?

Grabmal der Cecilia Metella is held by Kunsthistorisches Museum.

What movement is Grabmal der Cecilia Metella?

Grabmal der Cecilia Metella is associated with Rococo painting.

Artwork

Grabmal der Cecilia Metella

Andrea Locatelli , 1720

Grabmal der Cecilia Metella is an unspecified painting by the Rococo painting artist Andrea Locatelli. It dates from 1720 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.

About this work

Overview

Andrea Locatelli’s 1720 canvas, *Grabmal der Cecilia Metetra*, presents a tranquil Roman countryside centered on the ancient tomb of Caecilia Metella. Rendered in the light‑filled palette typical of the Rococo era, the composition balances a solitary tree, a stone monument and distant hills beneath a clear sky, inviting the eye to move from foreground figures to the distant landscape.

Subject & Meaning

The painting foregrounds the monumental tomb, a relic of the late Republic, set within a bucolic scene that softens its historic weight. By placing modest groups of travelers and a lone figure near a water’s edge, Locatelli suggests a harmonious coexistence of antiquity and everyday life, emphasizing the timeless allure of the Roman landscape.

Technique & Style

Locatelli employs a delicate handling of light, allowing warm golden tones to illuminate the foliage and stone, while cool blues recede in the sky and distant hills. His brushwork blends precise architectural detail with looser, atmospheric treatment of vegetation, reflecting the veduta tradition tempered by Rococo’s ornamental softness.

History & Provenance

Born in Rome in 1695, Locatelli trained initially with his father before studying under marine painters, later turning to landscape as his primary genre. *Grabmal der Cecilia Metetra* entered the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, where it remains part of the museum’s holdings of 18th‑century European painting.

Context

The work belongs to a period when Italian artists increasingly catered to Grand Tour travelers seeking picturesque depictions of historic sites. Locatelli’s rendering of the Metella tomb aligns with this demand, offering a cultivated view that merges archaeological interest with the era’s taste for idyllic, pastoral scenery.