Artwork
Architectural Fantasy with an Obelisk and Arcade
Architectural Fantasy with an Obelisk and Arcade is an ink print by the Baroque artist Louis-Joseph Le Lorrain. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Architectural Fantasy with an Obelisk and Arcade is an etching on laid paper created by Louis-Joseph Le Lorrain in 1750.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a fantastical ancient ruin with a broken obelisk, robed figures, and classical statues, set against a dramatic sky. The scene combines elements of ancient architecture and sculpture, with figures engaged in contemplative or ritual activities.
Technique & Style
Le Lorrain employed etching to achieve detailed textures and shading, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere. The use of chiaroscuro, a hallmark of Baroque art, adds drama to the scene, emphasizing the contrast between light and dark.
Artist & collection
Three Figures Dressed for a Masquerade
The Seconda Macchina for the Chinea of 1745: Triumphal Arch for the Return of King Charles of Bourbon to Naples
The Prima Macchina for the Chinea of 1748: The Son of Venus and Mars Presented to the Temple of Minerva
The Prima Macchina for the Chinea of 1746: The Temple of Minerva
The Prima Macchina for the Chinea of 1744: The Glorification of Virgil
Funeral Scene in Imaginary Architecture
Ancient Forum Seen Beneath an Arch
Capriccio: Ruins
Veduta ... delle Terme di Tito
Rovine d' antichi Edifizj
Capriccio with Ruins and an Obelisk
Composition with Antique Vases
Figures Near the Ruins of a Corinthian Temple (recto)
Camera sepolcrale
The Well
Interior of a Roman Villa
Architectural Fantasy with a Pyramidal Mausoleum