Escalier dans une ruelle à Rome 1859 - 1864

Jean-Jacques Henner’s painting “Escalier dans une ruelle à Rome” captures a stairwell in Rome. It is not dated, but was probably created sometime in the second half of the 19th century. Henner uses somber tones to depict the stairwell, a contrast with the vivid colors he used elsewhere. The architecture and the steps themselves seem to exude a sense of decay. Considering that Henner painted this scene in Rome, the urban center of the pontifical states, we must remember that while Rome was filled with grand cathedrals and palaces, it was also a city of immense poverty. It is hard to say if the artist intended to make a social comment, but the image is striking in that it shows a side of Rome that is often overlooked in artistic depictions. To understand this artwork better, it would be useful to know more about Henner's life and artistic development. We would need to look at exhibition catalogs, archives, and historical accounts of Rome in the 19th century.