The Pantheon

About the Art

Paintings of well-known and frequently visited sites were routinely collected by wealthy visitors on the so-called Grand Tour of Europe. Bellotto's detailed Italian cityscapes were particularly popular, as were the works by his even more famous uncle, Giovanni Antonio Canal, known as Canaletto. This painting was once believed to be by his uncle.

The Pantheon, with its concrete dome and cylindrical shape was dedicated in 126 CE. It remains one of the best-preserved buildings from ancient Rome.

FEATURED IMAGE
Bernardo Bellotto (Italian, 1720­–1780), The Pantheon, about 1742, oil on canvas, 24 1/2 x 38 1/4 inches (62.2 x 97.2 cm). Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Elton F. MacDonald, 1957.141