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Septem Urbis Ecclesiae [Seven Churches of Rome]

Giacomo Lauro

1599

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance

Dominant colour

Septem Urbis Ecclesiae [Seven Churches of Rome] is a 1599 ink by Giacomo Lauro, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Giacomo Lauro
When & what style?: 1599 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This image is a detailed black-and-white map of Rome’s seven major churches. The page is packed with tiny buildings, winding streets, and labels in Latin. Tiny people and carts move along the roads, while churches stand out with their domes and crosses. The Vatican is at the center, with a dramatic river and bridges below. The artist packed in so much detail that even the church names are written in small text boxes. The lines are all drawn by hand, creating a busy but organized cityscape. Next, check out how this was made using engraving.