The Basilica of Constantine with a Doric Colonnade
1687 National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
About this artwork
This architectural capriccio depicts an idealized ruin featuring the grand arches of the Basilica of Constantine combined with classical colonnades. The painting captures the artist's focus on dramatic perspective and the juxtaposition of decaying Roman architecture with contemporary figures.
Did you know?
Niccolò Codazzi was a prominent practitioner of the architectural capriccio, a genre that allowed artists to rearrange real monuments into imagined, harmonious compositions. These works were highly popular among European aristocrats on the Grand Tour, who sought to capture the romanticized decay of Rome's ancient grandeur for their personal collections.
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The Basilica of Constantine with a Doric Colonnade
Niccolò Codazzi, 1687
