Rovine cagionate in Tivoli, dall'escrescenza dell'Aniene (Tivoli Damaged by the Flood of the River Aniene)
1826
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1826
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This etching shows a small town perched on a steep cliff, with buildings stacked tightly together. Below, a river has burst its banks, flooding the area and damaging the town’s lower edge. Two people stand near the water’s edge, looking at the destruction, while a bridge and crumbling walls show the damage. The text at the bottom names the flood that caused this scene. It’s a rare look at how disasters shaped everyday life in the 1800s. Next, check out etching to see how artists like this one used ink and metal plates to create detailed prints.
