Artwork
The Pantheon
The Pantheon is an ink drawing by the Romanticist artist Victor Jean Nicolle. It dates from 1790 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Victor Jean Nicolle’s drawing titled The Pantheon was executed in 1790. Rendered on wove paper, the work combines pen work in brown and gray ink with watercolor and gouache applied over an initial red chalk sketch. The composition records the architectural form of the Pantheon, presenting it through a delicate balance of line and wash.
Technique & Style
Nicolle employed a layered approach, beginning with a red chalk underdrawing that establishes the basic structure. Over this foundation he applied fine pen lines in brown and gray ink to delineate architectural details, then introduced watercolor and gouache washes to model light and shadow. The mixture of media creates a nuanced tonal range while preserving the precision of the draftsmanship.
History & Provenance
Created at the close of the eighteenth century, The Pantheon reflects Nicolle’s interest in classical monuments during a period of renewed archaeological enthusiasm. The drawing has remained in private collections before entering a museum holding of eighteenth‑century French drawings, where it serves as an example of the era’s documentary approach to historic architecture.
Artist & collection
