A Rocky Landscape at Civita Castellana

Art Historical Context

**A Rocky Landscape at Civ Castellana** (1776) by Jacob Hackert captures the rugged beauty of Civita Castellana, an ancient town north of Rome known for its dramatic volcanic terrain and Etruscan ruins. Hackert, a leading German landscape artist of the late 18th century, renowned for his topographic precision and luminous views inspired by the Italian countryside. Often called the "northern Claude Lorrain," he neoclassical clarity with naturalistic detail, appealing to enlightened patrons like Goethe and European royalty who prized his faithful depictions of nature. This preparatory drawing exemplifies Hackert's meticulous technique: a graphite underdrawing provides the fine lines of jagged rocks, twisted trees, and distant hills, enhanced by fluid brown wash for subtle tonal depth and atmosphere. Framing lines in pen and brown ink give it a polished, presentational quality, typical of his studi per quadri (studies for paintings). At 13 5/8 x 17 15/16 inches, it's an intimate work that hints at larger oil compositions Hackert produced during his Italian travels. Acquired by The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1991 through a generous gift, this piece highlights Hackert's role in bridging northern European precision with Italy's grand landscape tradition, offering visitors a window into 18th-century artistic exploration and the timeless allure of unspoiled wilderness.

About the Artist

Jacob Philipp Hackert · 1737–1807

German landscape painter, views in Italy; in the manner of Claude. Landscape painter whose international experience and views in the tradition of Claude Lorrain proved highly influential when he settled in Naples in the late 18th century.