Classical Ruins 1673

"Classical Ruins" is an etching by Wenceslaus Hollar, a prolific Czech-born artist who worked primarily in England. Created in 1673, the print depicts a dramatic landscape of Roman ruins, emphasizing the architectural details of crumbling arches and columns. Hollar's meticulous style is evident in the precise rendering of the stonework and the atmospheric quality of the sky, creating a sense of grandeur and decay. The piece, now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, exemplifies Hollar's fascination with classical antiquity and his mastery of etching technique.