Porto di Ripetta te Rome c. 1750 - 1799

This is Domenico Montaigù’s print ‘Porto di Ripetta te Rome’. The composition’s formal elements guide us through a visual journey from the stoic architecture to the tranquil river. Montaigù creates depth through linear perspective and scale, placing greater emphasis on the architectural structures, which seem to tower over the figures populating the staircases. The contrast in the weight of the lines in architectural elements and the ethereal quality of the sky above, imbues the cityscape with a sense of monumentality. The composition is structured around a series of horizontal and vertical lines. These create a stable architectural backdrop, which the curving lines of the clouds soften. This interplay between structure and fluidity suggests a dialogue between the enduring presence of the city and the transient beauty of nature. Montaigù captures a specific moment of the city’s life, yet he also invites us to consider broader themes of urban development and the relationship between architecture and the natural world.