Abraham-Louis-Rodolphe Ducros (Yverdon 1748-1810 Lausanne) and Giovanni Volpato (Bassano 1735-1803 Rome)

For another version of this drawing, see G. Marini et al., in Giovanni Volpato: 1735-1803, exhib. cat., Bassano del Grappa, Museo-Biblioteca-Archivio, and Rome, Instituto Nazionale per la Grafica, Gabinetto Disegni e Stampe, 1988, no. 245, ill.

The drawing is part of the series Vues de Rome et de ses Environs which was the result of a collaboration between Ducros and Volpato in the 1780s. Ducros engraved the copperplates, only indicating the outlines of the composition, and the colouring was added by Volpato or by one of the artists from his studio. Through this process the artists could produce a number of drawings of the same composition quite rapidly. The enterprise became a great success and the works were sought after by foreigners on their Grand Tour, and especially with the English.