View of the Colosseum 1739 - 1755

Joseph Marie Vien created this drawing of the Colosseum using graphite and gray wash. Vien was the director of the French Academy in Rome during the 18th century, a period when the Grand Tour was fashionable for young, upper-class Europeans. This sketch captures a romantic view of the Colosseum. Rather than emphasizing the monument's grandeur, Vien focuses on its decay. The Colosseum had been a site of public executions, and Vien turns away from the bloody history. The delicate rendering of the plants growing within the ruins suggests a theme of nature reclaiming civilization. The classical world was considered to be the foundation of European culture and identity. By portraying it in ruins, Vien is able to develop an alternative narrative, prompting viewers to consider themes of decline and change. The drawing offers a quiet, contemplative moment amidst the ruins.