The Septizonium and the Colosseum
1550
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1550
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This etching shows two ancient Roman ruins side by side. The Septizonium, a fancy three-tiered Roman facade, stands to the left. The Colosseum looms behind it, its arches clear and worn. The artist printed this in Rome around 1550. He used etched lines on paper to copy what he saw. The buildings look old even then—this was a ruin even in his day. Look up the etching technique to see how he made those fine lines.
