View of the Colosseum from the Basilica of Domitian and the Flavian Palace, Rome

Henri-Joseph Harpignies

1864 · Watercolor over graphite, lightly squared in graphite · Drawings and Prints

It was in Italy that landscape painter Harpignies first took up watercolor in 1849. This drawing dates from his second sojourn in 1863–65 and demonstrates his mastery of the medium. By reserving white areas of the paper, Harpignies brilliantly conveys the bleaching effect of the bright Italian sunshine across the shadowy gray and brown tones of the ruins. The artist made two other versions of this composition—one almost twice as large as this sheet—so it was likely for the purpose of repeating and enlarging that he lightly squared this drawing in graphite.

Artist

Henri-Joseph Harpignies

Date

1864

Medium

Watercolor over graphite, lightly squared in graphite

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

Purchase, Arnold Whitridge Gift, 1963