French (?), 'Excavation of the Roman Theatre, Orange, France', mid-1850s
About the work
Overview
Contemporary houses have been pulled down in order to reveal the classical ruins of the Roman Theatre in Orange behind and beneath them. Work on this clearance finished in 1856. Tiny figures, who appear dwarfed by the architecture, busy themselves with the Herculean task of clearing up the ruins. The proscenium is on the left and the semi-circular seating, not yet uncovered, is on the right. The artist sketched in the structure of the composition before applying his oil paints, with which he masterfully captures the play of light on the masonry brickwork and plastered walls. The artist is probably French, but may be German or Scandinavian.
Key facts
Details
- Full title
- Excavation of the Roman Theatre, Orange, France
- Artist
- French (?)
- Date made
- mid-1850s
- Medium and support
- Oil on paper laid on canvas
- Dimensions
- 24.7 × 32.7 cm
- Acquisition credit
- The Gere Collection, on long-term loan to the National Gallery
- Inventory number
- L792
- Location
- Room 39
- Image copyright
- The Gere Collection, on long-term loan to the National Gallery, © Private collection 2000. Used by permission
- Collection
- Main Collection
About this record
If you know more about this painting or have spotted an error, please contact us. Please note that exhibition histories are listed from 2009 onwards. Bibliographies may not be complete; more comprehensive information is available in the National Gallery Library.
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