The Piazza of Saint Peter's Seen through an Arch of the Basilica
Italienische Grafik 1779–1810, 1778/1779
- Artist
- Italienische Grafik 1779–1810
- Date
- 1778/1779
- Type
- Drawing
- Medium
- pen and black ink and watercolor, over graphite and pinholes for guidelines, on medium wove paper
- Dimensions
- 59.9 × 52.3 cm
- Collection
- National Gallery of Art, Washington
- Licence
- Public domain, CC0
Image description
The image shows an architectural space with an ornate archway leading to an open plaza. In the distance, there is a tall obelisk surrounded by statues and colonnades. The ceiling is intricately decorated with golden motifs, contrasting with the blue sky seen through the archway. The precise brushstrokes capture the detailed decorations. The color palette includes earthy tones for the architecture, gold for the ceiling, and blue for the sky. Geometric patterns on the floor direct the eye towards the plaza.