St Peter's, Rome
18 of 1569 portraits matching these criteria:
- subject matching 'Buildings and architecture'







© National Portrait Gallery, London
- Buy a print
- Use this image
- Share this
St Peter's, Rome
attributed to Sir Charles Lock Eastlake
brown wash and pencil, 1825
7 1/4 in. x 9 1/2 in. (185 mm x 240 mm)
Purchased, 1955
Primary Collection
NPG 3944(2)
Artistback to top
- Sir Charles Lock Eastlake (1793-1865), Painter; President of the Royal Academy and Director of the National Gallery; Trustee of the National Portrait Gallery. Artist associated with 2 portraits, Sitter in 15 portraits.
This portraitback to top
Attributed to the painter Charles Eastlake, who arrived in Italy in 1816, this view of Rome was taken from the terrace of the Pincio in front of the Villa Medici, which housed the French Academy in Rome. The most prominent sights are St Peter's basilica and to the left, the ancient Castel Saint'Angelo.
With its blend of ancient, Renaissance and modern elements, Eastlake's drawing conveys the allure of Rome for travellers. Yet the scene is interpreted in terms of the pictorial convention of the 'Picturesque', and with some buildings repositioned and others erased entirely, the view becomes a mixture of the real and the romanticised.
Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top
- British Artists in Rome: The John Partridge Sketchbook, 1823 - 27 (21 August 2010 - 27 March 2011)
Subjects & Themesback to top
Events of 1825back to top
Current affairs
Strikes, contract breaking and worker intimidation prompt the passing of a new Anti-Trade Union Combination Act to the dismay of economist John McCulloch, MP Joseph Hume and radical Francis Place who had worked for the repeal of the previous year.Catholic Relief Bill is rejected by the House of Lords.
Art and science
Construction of Thames Tunnel begins under the direction of Marc Isambard Brunel.Stockton to Darlington Railway, the world's first passenger system, opens.
William Hazlitt publishes The Spirit of the Age; twenty-five pen-portraits of his contemporaries in the world of literature, philosophy and politics.
International
Beethoven's Ninth Symphony premieres in London.John Quincy Adams is elected President of the United States.
Tell us more back to top
Can you tell us more about this portrait? Spotted an error, information that is missing (a sitter’s life dates, occupation or family relationships, or a date of portrait for example) or do you know anything that we don't know? If you have information to share please complete the form below.
If you require information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service. You can buy a print of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at £6 for unframed prints, £25 for framed prints. If you wish to license this image, please use our Rights and Images service.
Please note that we cannot provide valuations.
We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.