Arches of a Ruin

Cornelis van Poelenburch, an artist from Utrecht, arrived in Rome in 1617. He was to remain there until 1625. During this period Van Poelenburch drew sketches in and around the city, often featuring buildings and ruins dating from antiquity.Classical antiquityClassical antiquity refers to the period in which Graeco-Roman civilization flourished. It began in the 7th century BC with the rise of Athens and ended in the 4th century AD when the Roman emperors adopted Christianity. It was a period in which culture reached new heights. Two thousand years ago classical civilization encompassed much of Europe, and parts of Asia and Africa. The art and architecture of classical antiquity have long counted as the standard by which all art should be measured. The literature, philosophy and mythology of this period remained one of the principal sources of European thought until well into the 20th century. At first sight, this drawing appears to depict a massive arched opening in a rock; however, on closer inspection it turns out to be an ancient Roman vault. On the right, in the foreground, lies a collapsed wall, while the masonry in the background reveals the typical diagonal lines of Roman brickwork known as 'opus reticulatus'. Van Poelenburch accentuated the size of the ruin by including two human figures in the scene.