Roman School Artist, Ruins, 1600s, Oil on Canvases, Set of 2

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Painting 1: The first painting depicts an imaginary scene of ancient ruins, dominated by partly collapsed Corinthian columns, evoking a … Read more Painting 1: The first painting depicts an imaginary scene of ancient ruins, dominated by partly collapsed Corinthian columns, evoking a Roman temple. At their feet, human figures in 17th-century costume animate the composition, embodying the Baroque interest in the contrasts between past grandeur and contemporary human presence. The bright sky of an intense blue bordered by light clouds amplifies the sensation of depth and romantic melancholy.
Painting 2: The second painting immerses the viewer in the monumental interior of a vaulted building, probably inspired by Roman baths or basilicas. The play of shadows accentuates the breadth of the architecture, punctuated by a series of round arches. A few figures reinforce the colossal scale of the place. A classical statue in a niche suggests the permanence of ancient art in the heart of a ruined world. The solemn atmosphere and mastery of perspective illustrate the interest of Roman painters in antiquity as a meditative setting. These two works, rich in detail and great pictorial mastery, belong to the genre of Capricci, those poetic compositions in which Baroque artists mix imaginary ruins and human figures to celebrate the greatness of antiquity. See less