A Graduate of Pomona
Samuel Prout (English, 1787-1853), The Roman Forum
The Roman Forum
Private collection
Watercolor and gum arabic
15 1/2 X 11 1/4 in.
While Samuel Prout painted several variants of many of his favorite topographical subjects, this is an example of a view of the Roman Forum which the artist rarely painted. It shows the side of the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina, on the edge of the Forum, looking into the center of the Forum, toward the ruined remains of the Temple of Castor and Pollux. The watercolor is in remarkably good condition with unfaded colors of intensities which are almost never seen in the artist's surviving work. Prout painted very thinly, and the vast majority of his watercolors are now badly faded after nearly 200 years of exposure to light.
Prout's only recorded trips to Rome (2) occurred in 1824, when a detailed reference drawing for this watercolor would have been made. But Prout could have painted the actual watercolor at any later date, since he made use of earlier drawings to paint watercolor versions at later times throughout his career.
Samuel Prout (English, 1787-1853), The Roman Forum
The Roman Forum
Private collection
Watercolor and gum arabic
15 1/2 X 11 1/4 in.
While Samuel Prout painted several variants of many of his favorite topographical subjects, this is an example of a view of the Roman Forum which the artist rarely painted. It shows the side of the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina, on the edge of the Forum, looking into the center of the Forum, toward the ruined remains of the Temple of Castor and Pollux. The watercolor is in remarkably good condition with unfaded colors of intensities which are almost never seen in the artist's surviving work. Prout painted very thinly, and the vast majority of his watercolors are now badly faded after nearly 200 years of exposure to light.
Prout's only recorded trips to Rome (2) occurred in 1824, when a detailed reference drawing for this watercolor would have been made. But Prout could have painted the actual watercolor at any later date, since he made use of earlier drawings to paint watercolor versions at later times throughout his career.