Open full image Pin

Capitolii Sciographia [View of the Roman Capitol]

Étienne Dupérac

1569

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Cityscape

Dominant colour

Capitolii Sciographia [View of the Roman Capitol] is a 1569 ink by Étienne Dupérac, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Étienne Dupérac
When & what style?: 1569 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This image shows a grand courtyard with tall buildings on three sides. The ground is patterned with geometric tiles, and a wide staircase leads up to a central fountain. Statues stand on the rooftops and near the stairs, while columns line the buildings. The sky above is filled with soft clouds, and the whole scene looks like a detailed drawing. The tiny lines and shading suggest this was made using a printmaking method. The artist focused on every architectural detail, from the steps to the rooftop statues. Look up etching to see how artists like this created sharp, precise prints.