Roman Ruins
1699
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1699
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
You see crumbling brick arches, mossy columns, and a bright blue sky peeking through broken stone. Marco Ricci painted these ruins quickly, outdoors, with watercolor—unusual for the time. Most artists sketched outside, then finished in the studio. Ricci worked fast, letting the paper show through for light and air. Look up *sfumato* to see how other artists softened edges like this.
