View of the Ruins of the Colosseum, Rome, with Two Seated Figures c. 1647 - 1650

Jan Worst's "View of the Ruins of the Colosseum, Rome, with Two Seated Figures" is a pen and wash drawing executed around 1647-1650. It depicts the ruins of the Colosseum in Rome, a popular subject among 17th-century European artists. The crumbling arches and fragmented walls create a sense of grandeur and decay. The two seated figures in the foreground add a human scale to the vastness of the Roman ruin. The drawing is characterized by its precise lines and subtle shading, capturing the light and shadow that play across the stone.