Church of Sant’ Onofrio, Rome 1775 - 1780

Jacques Louis David rendered the Church of Sant’ Onofrio in Rome with ink and wash, presenting a study in form and light. The architectural elements are meticulously articulated through a monochromatic palette, dominated by grays and subtle gradations that evoke a sense of depth and volume. The composition is structured around the play of light and shadow, emphasizing the geometric clarity of the church's facade. David’s treatment of the colonnade, with its repetitive archways, introduces a rhythmic quality, while the sharp angles and flat planes of the building create a sense of monumentality. The semiotic weight of this architectural study resides in its adherence to classical ideals of order and rationality, a visual embodiment of Enlightenment principles. David’s formal approach invites us to consider how architectural space can be represented and understood through the careful manipulation of line, tone, and perspective. It shows the cultural and philosophical values embedded in both the subject and the mode of its representation.