1747
graphite
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
A Roman Street with Monte Cavo in the Distance is a 1747 graphite by Joseph-Marie Vien, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a quiet street in what looks like an old European city. A lone statue stands on a pedestal near the left side, with a tree beside it. In the background, there’s a large building with arched doorways and a tower, plus a mountain range fading into the distance. The artist used quick, light pencil strokes to suggest details like the statue’s folds of cloth and the rough texture of the buildings. The sketch feels like a quick note of a place, not a finished picture. Next, check out the Baroque movement for more sketches like this one.
Joseph-Marie Vien (18 June 1716 – 27 March 1809) was a French painter. He was the last holder of the post of Premier peintre du Roi, serving from 1789 to 1791, before it was abolished during the French Revolution.
See the richer artist pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
