Artwork
A View of the Vestibule of Saint Mary at Rome
A View of the Vestibule of Saint Mary at Rome is a print by the Romanticist artist Georges Francois Blondel. It dates from 1766 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
A View of the Vestibule of Saint Mary at Rome is a print by George-Francois Blondel, a French artist who settled in London after spending several years in Italy.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a grand church hallway, likely imagined or recalled from memory, with columns lining the sides and stretching up into shadows, evoking a sense of depth and grandeur.
Technique & Style
Blondel employed mezzotint, a technique that creates smooth, dark tonal areas, to achieve a sense of depth and atmosphere in the print, with some impressions printed in sepia ink for special patrons.
History & Provenance
The print is part of a series of eight published in 1766, and the CMA holds a set that includes two sepia impressions.
Artist & collection
