Luigi Rossini

“Once we were in Rome we saw the arrival of Pope Pius VII in 1814, with such great festivities that we were struck dumb by the beauty of the city, and I did not know how to set about studying it...” Luigi Rossini’s initial response to Rome grew into an intense engagement with the city. Originally trained as an architect, he became increasingly drawn to its ancient monuments, participating in archaeological surveys and making detailed examinations of their forms. Inspired by Giovanni Battista Piranesi’s dramatic views of Rome, Rossini turned to etching to combine his architectural learning with expressive intent. This view of the Colosseum comes from Rossini’s Le Antichità Romane [The Antiquities of Rome], a series of 101 etchings published in 1823.

(Timeless: Treasures from the Historical Collection 19 September 2026 –30 May 2027)