Abraham-Louis-Rodolphe Ducros Moudon 1748 - 1810 Lausanne

This distant view of the Colosseum, taken from the Palatine, includes a group of figures with Pope Pius VI studying what are probably plans for excavations.  From 1779 Giovanni Volpato, the artist who was associated with Ducros in several artistic projects, had permission from Pius VI to make excavations both in Rome and outside the city.  This watercolour is dated a few years earlier that the 1780 etching with watercolour of the same subject (see Abraham Louis Rodolphe Ducros, exhib. cat., Rome, Palazzo Braschi, 1987, cat. no. 5, reproduced).  Another watercolour of the same subject, but larger and with variations in the figures was sold London, Christie's, 28 June 1966, lot 150.  The importance of the view combined with the presence of the Pope must have made this subject very desirable.