View of Civita Castellana

In 1786, the Dutch artist Dupré went on a study trip to Rome. One of the places he visited along the way was Civita Castellana, an ancient Roman city north of Rome. He was fascinated by its location, high up on a jagged cliff, and so rather than painting the city itself he depicted the road leading to it. The sun has just risen and the rolling landscape – far away from bustling Rome – exudes an air of tranquillity.