De ruïne van de Villa van Hadrianus in Tivoli c. 1761 - 1817

Daniël Dupré created this drawing of the ruins of Hadrian’s Villa in Tivoli using pen in brown and grey, and brush in grey. The composition immediately strikes us with its play of light and shadow, defining the skeletal remains of Roman architecture. Dupré masterfully uses the arch as a framing device, repeated and layered to create depth and draw the eye into the heart of the villa. This is a very calculated study in form and structure, where the ruin itself becomes a signifier of time and decay. The arches, no longer serving their structural purpose, become openings to further views, inviting contemplation on the passage of history. The monochromatic palette simplifies the scene, reducing it to its essential forms and textures, from the rough stone to the delicate vegetation reclaiming the space. In its totality, the work invites us to consider the dialectic between nature and culture, permanence and transience, and the layers of meaning embedded within this ruin.