Rome from the Campagna Sunset 

Thomas Moran painted this vision of Rome using oil on canvas. Oil paint has a unique capacity to capture light, and Moran exploits this to full effect here, doesn't he? The way he builds up layers of pigment creates an almost palpable atmosphere; the colours blend softly, giving the scene a hazy, dreamlike quality. But it’s not just about surface appearances. Look at how he uses the brushstrokes to suggest texture: rough and broken in the foreground ruins, smooth and fluid in the sky. Think of the social context here. Oil painting, by the late 19th century, was a well-established medium of the art academy, quite distinct from other kinds of making, like fresco or mosaic. The grand vistas of Romantic painting, like this one, remind us that art is always embedded in materials, methods, and cultural values. By taking these into account, we can fully appreciate the skill and intention that go into an artwork.