Roman Album No. 4: Italian Landscapes and Antiquities

Roman Album No. 4: Italian Landscapes and Antiquities by Jacques-Louis David is an essential surviving document from the artist's foundational years in Rome, spanning approximately 1775-1780. Classified as a Volume, this pivotal work comprises an album containing 61 individual drawings and 21 distinct tracings. This period marks David’s crucial shift toward Neoclassicism, fueled by the direct study of classical models, a practice essential to the pensionnaire experience required of artists studying in Italy. The album serves as a comprehensive visual record of his diligent preparation for the grand historical paintings that would define his mature career.

Reflecting the dominant intellectual and archaeological interests of the late 18th century, the subject matter within the album focuses predominantly on views of the Italian landscape and detailed studies of classical antiquities. As an important example of early French drawing practice, this collection demonstrates David’s meticulous observational skills. The content showcases the material exploration characteristic of the era often classified between 1751 to 1775, even as the volume itself stretched into the subsequent years. The inclusion of both finished drawings and preliminary tracings provides valuable insight into the working methods of the young master, showing how he isolated and refined specific architectural and sculptural motifs for later adaptation in his large-scale compositions.

Physically, the album consists of 22 pages in all, with 21 rectos and 2 versos bearing the drawings and preparatory tracings. This compilation of sketches is invaluable for understanding David’s intellectual journey and his transition from the Rococo style toward the severity and philosophical depth of classicism. Housed within the collection of the National Gallery of Art, this remarkable volume is frequently studied by scholars referencing the origins of modern European art. Though the original volume remains protected, high-resolution scans and prints of key sheets are often made available through resources leveraging public domain policies, ensuring broad access to David’s indispensable record of Italian inspiration.