River Landscape with View of St. Peter's Basilica
Medium
pen and brown ink over traces of black chalk; framing lines in graphite
Dimensions
11.4 × 26.5 cm
Classification
Drawing
Department
Drawings
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Delia E. Holden Fund
Accession Number
1978.21
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
About this artwork
With much of Saint Peter’s Basilica obscured by the energetic lines that form the foliage, the building appears integrated into the landscape in this river scene. What stands out is the massive dome jutting from the tree line. Designed by Michelangelo in 1547, the dome was completed in 1590, after his death. Michelangelo made many contributions to the architecture of Rome, but it was the dome of Saint Peter’s that fundamentally altered the city’s iconic skyline. Although loosely sketched and wit...