View of Rome 1784

Pierre-Henri de Valenciennes, a leading figure in the development of French landscape painting, captured this view of Rome with oil on paper. Valenciennes, as a white, male academician, was deeply invested in the classical tradition. Here, we see how the urban landscape is carefully composed. It balances both natural elements, like the trees in the mid-ground, and architectural monuments, such as the dome of St. Peter's Basilica, which punctuates the Roman skyline. Valenciennes was interested in representing the ideal landscape rather than an exact depiction. He sought to evoke a sense of harmony and order. "View of Rome" embodies the era's fascination with the city as a historical and cultural center. While the painting appears to be a straightforward landscape, it also suggests the power dynamics inherent in the act of viewing and representing a place. The gaze is directed towards the heart of the Catholic Church, inviting contemplation on the role of religion and history in shaping identity.