Artwork
The Villa of Maecenas in Tivoli
The Villa of Maecenas in Tivoli is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Charles François Grenier de Lacroix. It dates from 1764 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
About this work
Overview
Charles François Grenier de Lacroix painted The Villa of Maecenas in Tivoli in 1764. Executed in oil on canvas, the work is part of the collection of the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin. The composition presents a tranquil countryside scene centered on a waterfall and a classical building perched on a cliff.
Subject & Meaning
The landscape shows a rocky cascade on the left side, where a small group of figures gathers at the water’s base. Above the falls, a substantial structure—identified as the Villa of Maecenas— crowns the cliff, suggesting a link between natural beauty and ancient Roman patronage.
Technique & Style
Grenier de Lacroix employs a muted palette of earth tones, predominately browns and greens, to model the terrain. Light and shadow are rendered to give the rocks, water and architecture a convincing three‑dimensional presence, while a clear blue sky with scattered clouds frames the scene.
History & Provenance
Since its creation in the mid‑18th century, the painting has remained in institutional hands, eventually entering the Gemäldegalerie’s holdings in Berlin, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s European landscape collection.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Charles François Grenier de Lacroix
Charles François Grenier de Lacroix (1700–1779) was an artist, born in Marseille.
