Who painted Ruinen römischer Thermen?

Ruinen römischer Thermen was painted by Pietro Capelli in 1697.

Where can I see Ruinen römischer Thermen?

Ruinen römischer Thermen is held by Bavarian State Painting Collections.

Artwork

Ruinen römischer Thermen

Ruinen römischer Thermen is an unspecified painting by Pietro Capelli. It dates from 1697 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.

About this work

Overview

Pietro Capelli’s oil painting *Ruinen römischer Thermen*, executed circa 1697, presents a ruinous Roman bath complex. The composition centers on a large arch flanked by columns, set within an open courtyard where figures in simple robes gather. The work resides in the Alte Pinakothek’s collection.

Subject & Meaning

The image reflects the late‑17th‑century fascination with classical antiquity, portraying the decay of a once‑grand public bathing facility. By placing contemporary‑dressed figures amid the ruins, Capelli juxtaposes past grandeur with present observation, inviting contemplation of history’s passage.

Technique & Style

Capelli employs a restrained palette of warm earth tones for stone and pale blue for the sky, creating spatial depth through tonal modulation. Subtle chiaroscuro models the architecture and figures, while the soft handling of light enhances the atmospheric sense of an open courtyard.

History & Provenance

An Italian painter linked to the Rococo movement, Capelli was active in Naples during the early eighteenth century and died in the 1720s. After its creation, the painting entered the Alte Pinakothek, where it remains part of the museum’s holdings.