Ruins on the Right of the Via Appia

Art Historical Context

In the late 18th century, the height of the Grand Tour, flocked to Italy to immerse themselves in classical antiquity, commissioning artists like Carlo Labr to capture its timeless beauty. *Ruins on the Right the Via Appia*ca. 1789) exemplifies this fascination, depicting weathered remnants along Rome's ancient Appian Way of the oldest and most storied Roman roads lined with tombs, aqueducts, and milestones evoking the grandeur of the. Labruzzi, an Italian specialist in architectural vedute (precise topographical views), masterfully rendered this scene in watercolor over graphite on a generous sheet (16 7/8 × 21 3/4 in.). The graphite underdrawing provided intricate outlines for the ruins' textures and perspectives, while translucent watercolors added luminous depth and atmospheric haze, mimicking the soft Roman light. This technique was ideal for portable, detailed souvenirs prized by collectors. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (gift of Roberta J. M. Olson and Alexander B. V. Johnson, 2015), the work bridges Neoclassicism's reverence for the past with the era's emerging archaeological precision, inviting us to ponder Rome's enduring legacy.