Offered by GSLR Antiques
View of the Colosseum shown in its entirety, framed to emphasize the monumentality of the Flavian amphitheater and its ruined state at the end of the 18th century. The foreground shows layers of terrain and the remains of ancient structures, evoking the archaeological excavations and observations then in full development. The scene is animated with small figures to convey scale. On the right is the Arch of Constantine.
Watercolor and ink on paper. Signed lower edge: J. V. Nicolle, for Victor Jean Nicolle (1754–1826). Late 18th century, before 1798.
Victor Jean Nicolle was a French draughtsman and watercolorist, born in Paris in 1754 and died in 1826. He studied early at the École royale gratuite de dessin, where in 1771 he won the first prize for perspective, a distinction that oriented his entire career toward architectural representation.
He then continued his training in the studio of the architect Louis-François Petit-Radel, where he notably discovered the work of Piranesi. This work fully belongs to Victor-Jean Nicolle’s Roman production, an artist renowned for his topographical views and architectural studies made during his stays in Italy, mainly in Rome (1787–1798 and 1806–1811). The signature “J. V. Nicolle,” well attested but less frequent than “V. J. Nicolle,” appears notably on works executed during his first Roman stay (1787–1798). It is found especially on technical sheets, surveys, or field studies — which corresponds perfectly to the analytical character of this view of the Colosseum. The precision of the drawing, the sobriety of the coloring, and the attention paid to structural details testify to Nicolle’s architectural training and his interest in emerging archaeology. The slightly off-center framing allows the neighboring Arch of Constantine to be included, reinforcing the topographical dimension of the composition.
The drawing, cut into an oval shape, is inserted into a watercolor mount returning the work to a rectangular format. It is presented in an Empire period palmette frame, gilded with gold leaf.
Dimensions of the oval: 34.7 × 25.2 cm
Overall dimensions with frame: 59.5 × 50.5 cm
