The Temple of Peace, plate nine from the Ruins of Rome c. 1796

"The Temple of Peace" is a hand-colored aquatint etching from "Ruins of Rome" by M. Dubourg, c. 1796. This print showcases the Temple of Peace, an ancient Roman structure in ruins, with the artist's signature visible below the image. Dubourg's depiction captures the grandeur of the structure, while also revealing the passage of time and the decay of once-grand Roman architecture. The detailed rendering of the stone arches and the surrounding landscape highlight the artist's keen eye for detail and his mastery of the aquatint technique. The Temple of Peace was a vast complex built by the Roman emperor Vespasian in the 1st century AD, but it was destroyed by fire in the 3rd century AD, leaving only its shell. Dubourg's depiction is an important historical record of this ancient Roman architectural marvel.