Where can I see Eighteen Views of Rome: The Collegio di Propaganda Fide (recto)?

Eighteen Views of Rome: The Collegio di Propaganda Fide (recto) is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Eighteen Views of Rome: The Collegio di Propaganda Fide (recto)?

Eighteen Views of Rome: The Collegio di Propaganda Fide (recto) is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Eighteen Views of Rome: The Collegio di Propaganda Fide (recto)

Eighteen Views of Rome: The Collegio di Propaganda Fide (recto) is a drawing by the Baroque artist Lievin Cruyl. It dates from 1665 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1665 by the Flemish draughtsman Lievin Cruyl, this pen-and-ink drawing records an eighteenth‑view of Rome that focuses on the Collegio di Propaganda Fide. The work is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection and measures a modest sheet that captures a broad urban panorama along the Tiber River.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on the expansive, column‑framed façade of the Collegio, a 17th‑century institution for training Catholic missionaries. In the foreground a modest chapel with a stepped entrance and a cross rises, while two figures—one holding a staff, the other in period dress—anchor the scene at the riverbank, suggesting everyday activity within a sacred setting.

Technique & Style

Cruyl employs precise linear hatching to render architectural detail, emphasizing the rhythm of windows and pilasters. The drawing’s balanced perspective and clear delineation of the bridge’s railings reflect the Baroque interest in ordered grandeur and the integration of built forms within their natural surroundings.

History & Provenance

After remaining in private hands for several centuries, the drawing entered the Cleveland Museum of Art in the early 20th century as part of a broader acquisition of European prints and drawings. Its attribution to Cruyl has been confirmed through stylistic comparison with his other Roman cityscapes.