View of the Forum from the Base of the Capitol c. 1550

Hieronymus Cock’s “View of the Forum from the Base of the Capitol”, a 16th century etching, depicts a panoramic scene of the Roman Forum. Cock, a Flemish printmaker and publisher, created this detailed artwork highlighting the grandeur of ancient Roman architecture, even in its ruins. The image features recognizable landmarks such as the Arch of Septimius Severus, the Temple of Saturn, and the Temple of Vesta. The artist's precise rendering of the Forum's ruins, including the columned structures and the architectural fragments scattered across the landscape, conveys the enduring power of Roman civilization.