Artwork

A View of Rome from Santa Maria del Priorato

A View of Rome from Santa Maria del Priorato, by Gaspar van Wittel, ink, 1710
A View of Rome from Santa Maria del Priorato, by Gaspar van Wittel, ink, 1710

A View of Rome from Santa Maria del Priorato is an ink drawing by the Baroque artist Gaspar van Wittel. It dates from 1710 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

This painting is called A View of Rome from Santa Maria del Priorato.
It was made around 1710 by Gaspar van Wittel.
The artist used a mix of pen, brown ink, gray wash, and red chalk to create it, which is interesting because it shows how artists back then experimented with different materials.
You can learn more about the Baroque movement.

Overview

A View of Rome from Santa Maria del Priorato is a drawing created by Gaspar van Wittel around 1710. It is executed in pen and brown ink, gray wash, and red chalk on laid paper.

Technique & Style

The drawing showcases van Wittel's use of mixed media to achieve a detailed representation of Rome's landscape. The combination of pen, ink, wash, and red chalk allows for a range of tonal values and textures.

Subject & Meaning

The work depicts a view of Rome from the church of Santa Maria del Priorato, highlighting the city's classical structures from a high vantage point. It exemplifies the veduta genre, characterized by precise architectural renderings of cityscapes.

History & Provenance

Gaspar van Wittel, a Dutch artist active in Rome from the late 17th century until his death in 1736, was instrumental in establishing the veduta genre. He created this drawing during his time in Rome.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Gaspar van Wittel

Artist

Gaspar van Wittel

Caspar van Wittel or Gaspar van Wittel (Dutch: ; born Jasper Adriaensz van Wittel; 1652 or 1653 – 13 September 1736), known in Italian as Gaspare Vanvitelli (IPA: ) or Gasparo degli Occhiali (IPA: ), was a Dutch painter…

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.