De Villa Mattei (Villa Celimontana) in Rome 1761 - 1817

Daniël Dupré created this drawing, "De Villa Mattei (Villa Celimontana) in Rome," using pen and brush in brown ink and grey wash on paper. The composition unfolds with a carefully structured layering of space. Notice how the architecture and figures are depicted with precision, yet the trees are rendered more freely, creating a dynamic contrast between the man-made and the natural. The artist invites us to contemplate how structures mediate our perception of the landscape. Dupré uses tone and line to define form and space. This interplay not only models the physical structure of the villa but also invites us to consider the semiotics of space—how built environments and nature communicate status and cultural values. This work challenges the traditional picturesque landscape by subtly questioning the stability of architectural representation. Its ongoing interpretation allows us to reflect on the shifting meanings of space and representation.