The Great Cascatella at Tivoli, plate thirteen from the Ruins of Rome Possibly 1798

This print of "The Great Cascatella at Tivoli," was made by M. Dubourg sometime in the late 18th or early 19th century. The cool palette of blues and greens, combined with the cascading waterfall, evoke a sublime yet calming visual experience. Note how the composition of the artwork emphasizes a vertical orientation. The artist carefully uses line and form to guide our eyes from the top of the waterfall down through the rocky terrain, underscoring the power of nature. The visual structure—layered with the sky, trees, and water—creates a sense of depth, yet also confines the sublime within a structured, almost geometric frame. The print challenges conventional depictions of landscapes by playing with texture. The rough, uneven rendering of the rocks and foliage against the smooth, flowing water offers a dialogue between chaos and order. In doing so, Dubourg invites us to reconsider our relationship to the natural world, not as a passive observer, but as an active participant in deciphering its complexities.