What movement is View of the Tiber; Copy of a Roman Sculpture of a Bacchante [verso]?

View of the Tiber; Copy of a Roman Sculpture of a Bacchante [verso] is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

View of the Tiber; Copy of a Roman Sculpture of a Bacchante [verso]

View of the Tiber; Copy of a Roman Sculpture of a Bacchante [verso] is a chalk drawing by the Renaissance artist Étienne Dupérac. It dates from 1559 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1559, this drawing by Étienne Dupérac presents a view of the Tiber River. Executed with pen, brown ink and black chalk on laid paper, the work combines a detailed urban landscape on one side with a rendered copy of a Roman Bacchante sculpture on the reverse.

Subject & Meaning

The front of the sheet depicts the banks of the Tiber, illustrating the river’s relationship to the surrounding cityscape. The reverse reproduces a classical sculpture of a Bacchante, reflecting the period’s interest in antiquarian study and the integration of mythological figures into artistic practice.

Technique & Style

Dupérac employs fine pen lines for architectural elements, while brown ink and black chalk provide tonal variation and depth. The drawing’s precise linear perspective and careful shading demonstrate the Renaissance emphasis on accurate observation and the merging of topographical recording with artistic interpretation.

History & Provenance

Attributed to the French artist and architect Étienne Dupérac, the piece belongs to a body of work documenting Rome’s monuments and landscapes during the mid‑16th century. Its dual nature—city view and sculptural copy—suggests it may have served as a study tool for scholars or patrons interested in both urban planning and classical art.