The Interior of the So-called Stables of Maecenas at Tivoli 

Hendrik Voogd made this sepia drawing of the interior of the So-called Stables of Maecenas at Tivoli with a meticulous eye and an intense awareness of material. Voogd was working within a long tradition of artists depicting classical ruins, but his choice of sepia wash – made from the ink sacs of cuttlefish – gives the image an immediacy that transcends mere documentation. The layering of the wash creates depth, with the arches of the ancient structure rendered in varying tones. The visible brushstrokes and the subtle gradations of light and shadow evoke the texture of the stone, hinting at the labor-intensive process of quarrying, carving, and construction. The figures give a sense of scale, but it is the rendering of the stone itself that dominates. Voogd invites us to consider the building not just as a historical monument, but as a testament to the physical effort and material resources required to build lasting structures. In this way, Voogd reminds us that even in the pursuit of art, the material world and the social structures that shape it are ever-present.