View of Rome at Night 1836

Hippolyte Flandrin made this watercolor, "View of Rome at Night," in 1855. Watercolor, often seen as a preliminary medium, has a unique fluidity. Flandrin’s handling of the wash is key to the scene’s success. See how the color intensity shifts, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere. The translucent qualities of watercolor allow light to penetrate the pigment layers, creating a luminous effect. Flandrin exploits this to evoke the soft glow of moonlight on the Roman skyline. Despite its association with amateur artmaking, watercolor requires immense skill. Flandrin demonstrates this through his confident brushwork, carefully balancing spontaneity and control. By layering washes, he builds up depth and form, while also preserving the inherent transparency of the medium. "View of Rome at Night" blurs the lines between sketch and finished work. In doing so, it invites us to appreciate the immediacy and expressive potential of this often-underestimated medium.