The Tomb of the Horatii and the Curatii at Albano c. 1775

Louis Chaix’s drawing, "The Tomb of the Horatii and the Curatii at Albano," is rendered in graphite. It presents an architectural ruin overgrown with nature. The composition is dominated by the horizontal layers of stone and contrasts with the verticality of slender trees in the background. The artist uses the interplay of light and shadow to emphasize the weathered texture of the stonework. Chaix’s exploration of ruins invites contemplation on time, memory, and the relationship between nature and human creation. The structural decay reflects a broader philosophical interest in the ephemeral nature of human achievement against the enduring presence of the natural world. Note how the crumbling architecture destabilizes established meanings, evoking a sense of melancholic beauty. It challenges our fixed perceptions of permanence and invites us to question the values we assign to monuments and historical narratives. Ultimately, the drawing serves as a point of ongoing interpretation on the themes of history, decay, and the human condition.