Colosseum

In 1774, Wright traveled to Rome, where he made studies and drawings of classical sculpture and architecture. He found the Colosseum’s imposing grandeur particularly appealing. This drawing approaches the ancient theater’s iconic arches from an innovative perspective. Wright emphasizes the structure’s immense scale by positioning the viewer within a long, curving series of arcades. The close vantage point draws attention to the picturesque quality of the crumbling stonework and the shafts of light seeping in through massive archways (2022).