The Capitol in Rome 1835

Rudolf von Alt created "The Capitol in Rome" using watercolor to depict the architecture and atmosphere of Rome. Born in 1812, Alt witnessed a time of significant social and political transformation across Europe, impacting artistic expression. Alt's focus wasn't on grand historical narratives, but on the lived experience of the city. How does the simple beauty of his cityscapes subtly question who gets to be remembered in history? Note how Alt captures the light on the timeworn stones, celebrating the everyday and the intimate. Unlike monumental paintings focusing on the powerful, here Alt finds dignity in the ordinary. The figures present in the scene appear as everyday citizens, their identities and stories interwoven with the urban landscape. Through his watercolors, Alt gently invites us to see the world through a different lens, finding worth not in the spectacular, but in the quiet, persistent beauty of the world around us.