The Arch of Titus in Rome 1839
constantinhansen
statensmuseumforkunst
paper, canvas
surveyor photography
light earthy tone
possibly oil pastel
paper
oil painting
canvas
acrylic on canvas
earthy tone
underpainting
painting painterly
watercolor
warm toned green
Constantin Hansen's 1839 watercolor, "The Arch of Titus in Rome," is a delicate portrayal of the famous Roman landmark. The artwork captures the arch's imposing presence, situated amidst the ruins of the ancient city. Hansen's keen eye for detail is evident in his depiction of the arch's intricate carvings, and his use of light and shadow creates a sense of depth and realism. This piece, now part of the SMK - Statens Museum for Kunst collection, exemplifies Hansen's mastery of watercolor as a medium and his fascination with the grandeur of Roman architecture.
Comments
As a counterweight to the large figure paintings created for the annual exhibitions at Charlottenborg in Copenhagen, the artists of the Golden Age also painted small, unpretentious oil studies where they could be unfettered by the conventions and expectations of the time. One example would be Constantin Hansen's small-scale painting of the Titus Arch near the Forum Romanum. He depicted the arch from a rather unconventional angle. It is not viewed from the front, but from the side, causing the facade to appear strongly foreshortened. The painting does not provide a representative impression of the building, meaning that it was not intended as a tourist pic ture. It is a study done exclusively for the artist's own personal use. The angle clearly reveals an inspiration from Eckersberg. However, Hansen has gone to greater extremes than his tutor ever did in terms of separating architectural form from the function and meaning that is usually associated with a building.
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During his time in Rome Constantin Hansen painted oil studies in the open air to provide variety in between his more complex figure compositions. Outdoors, he was free of any constraints concerning his contemporaries’ expectations as regards motif, method of painting, and composition. An unconventional angle One of his freest and most original studies is this picture of the Titus Arch near the Forum Romanum. He depicted it from a rather unconventional angle. The arch is not seen from the front, but from the side, thereby dramatically shortening the façade. The picture does not give a representative view of the building, meaning that it was not a travel or tourist picture intended for audiences back in Copenhagen. It is a study done exclusively for the artist’s own sake. Influenced by Eckersberg The picture shows clear signs of the influence of the Roman architectural studies done by C. W. Eckersberg (1783-1853), Constantin Hansen’s teacher. Here, however, Hansen went further than Eckersberg ever did. He completely disengaged the architectural form from the function and significance traditionally associated with a building. A break with the norms The colour scheme also marks a break with the norms of the day. The artist shows a remarkable sense of the delicate, changing hues of the sunlight and in the shadows. With this picture, Hansen points towards the treatment of colour employed by the Impressionists 30 years later.
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