The Arch of Septimius Severus in the Roman Forum, with the Column of Phocas at the Left and the Temple of Saturn at the Right 1667 - 1736

Gaspar van Wittel’s drawing, rendered in pen and brown ink with gray wash, presents us with a study of the Roman Forum. The Arch of Septimius Severus dominates our view, its solid form anchoring the composition. Van Wittel employs a grid-like structure to map out the architectural space, a technique revealing his analytical approach. The artist orchestrates a play of light and shadow to define the monument’s mass. Notice how the interplay of line and wash articulate the depth of the relief carvings, and the recession of space towards the Temple of Saturn. The drawing is not merely a depiction, but an exercise in understanding and representing space through a calculated framework. Van Wittel’s methodology offers a glimpse into the way architectural forms can be systematically understood and translated onto paper. This approach transforms the ancient structure into an object of study.