Fontana di Trevi, gezien vanuit het Westen 1787 - 1811

Victor Jean Nicolle's drawing of the Trevi Fountain, framed by an unusual octagonal shape, presents a fascinating study in perspective and form. The delicate washes of gray and blue give a sense of distance, while the architectural details of the fountain and surrounding buildings are rendered with precise linearity. Nicolle's strategic composition invites us to consider the relationship between the monumentality of the fountain and the everyday life unfolding in front of it. The figures in the foreground are dwarfed by the fountain, highlighting its imposing scale and Baroque extravagance, as well as creating a focal point that helps destabilize traditional perspective. The octagonal frame is key here. It functions less as a boundary and more as a lens. The shape destabilizes any fixed perspective, drawing our eye not just to the scene, but to the way in which it is represented. It challenges the viewer to consider the drawing as a constructed image.