Architectural fantasy of an ancient city with a square and many buildings, some partially in ruins 1777

This architectural fantasy by Robert Adam, created in 1777, depicts a grand, yet ruined, ancient city square. The scene features a variety of structures including a domed temple, a triumphal arch, and a tall column topped with a statue. The buildings are rendered in a detailed, neoclassical style, emphasizing the crumbling facades and overgrown vegetation. Adam's drawing, now in the SMK - Statens Museum for Kunst, exemplifies the artist's fascination with Roman architecture and his ability to envision majestic historical settings. This drawing is a prime example of the Romanticism movement, a period that emphasized the beauty and power of ruins and the past.