Architectural Capriccio with an Obelisk 1745 - 1764

This architectural capriccio, created by French artist Louis Joseph Le Lorrain in the mid-18th century, showcases a fantastical cityscape. The drawing, featuring an impressive obelisk framed by a grand colonnade, is executed in delicate grey washes, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere. The artist's use of perspective and meticulous detail brings this imagined world to life, inviting the viewer to explore its intricate spaces. The capriccio, a genre popular in the 18th century, allowed artists to combine real and imagined architectural elements, offering a glimpse into the architectural imagination of the period.