Colosseum
Gaspar Van Wittel was essentially the 18th-century equivalent of a travel photographer, creating these stunning *vedute* (view paintings) for wealthy tourists on the Grand Tour. He captures the Colosseum not as a lonely ruin, but as a bustling stage set where locals, travelers, and livestock wander through the grassy foreground. To the far right, the Arch of Constantine stands as a silent witness, framing a scene where ancient grandeur meets the casual rhythm of daily Roman life. Interestingly, though Van Wittel was Dutch, he became the father of the Italian *veduta* genre, and his son Luigi went on to become one of Italy's most famous architects.
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