Houses on the North Side of the Forum with the Basilica of Maxentius Beyond
1748
chalk
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1748
chalk
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Houses on the North Side of the Forum with the Basilica of Maxentius Beyond is a 1748 chalk by Joseph-Marie Vien, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This drawing shows simple buildings with slanted roofs, lined up along a quiet street. In the background, a bigger, flatter-roofed structure sits on a hill. Trees with thin, wispy branches lean over the scene, and the whole image feels a little sketchy, like it was drawn fast. The artist used only black chalk, so there’s no color—just light and dark lines to show depth. The buildings look old, but the drawing itself is rough and quick, almost like a study. If you like this style, check out the Baroque movement next.
![Buildings along a Riverside [verso]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/2575ea57b917e17d/thumb.webp)
