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Longitudinal View of Saint Peter's, Rome

Ambrogio Brambilla

1582

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Cityscape

Dominant colour

Longitudinal View of Saint Peter's, Rome is a 1582 ink by Ambrogio Brambilla, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Ambrogio Brambilla
When & what style?: 1582 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This is a black-and-white drawing of a grand church with two tall domes. The front has a long row of columns and arched windows. Above, the biggest dome sits in the middle, with smaller domes on each side. The artist used fine lines to show every detail, like the carvings and windows. This style was common in the 1500s for showing buildings exactly as they were. Check out the technique: etching to see how artists like this made sharp prints.