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Entablature from the Temple of Castor and Pollux, Rome

Pseudo-Pier Francesco Fiorentino

1537

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Architectural Column

Dominant colour

Entablature from the Temple of Castor and Pollux, Rome is a 1537 ink by Pseudo-Pier Francesco Fiorentino, a Renaissance work, depicting Column, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Pseudo-Pier Francesco Fiorentino
When & what style?: 1537 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This engraving shows a detailed view of an ancient Roman entablature—the horizontal structure above columns. It looks like a textbook diagram. The lines are crisp and clean, as if the artist used a sharp tool to carve every groove. The artist, Master PS, made this in 1537. That’s early for this kind of exact drawing. Others at the time fancied fluffy clouds or saints. This guy? Just stone and rules. See how the shadows are built with tiny lines? That’s cross-hatching. It gives depth without smudges. Want to try it yourself? Look up Master PS.