The Round Tower Ruptured to Reveal the Statue of the King of the Romans

"The Round Tower Ruptured to Reveal the Statue of the King of the Romans" is a highly imaginative etching created by Claude Lorrain (Claude Gellée) in 1637. This print, executed in the second state of two (Mannocci), demonstrates Lorrain’s technical skill as a printmaker relatively early in his career. While the French Baroque artist is most celebrated for his luminous, idealized landscape paintings, he produced a relatively small but influential body of prints that circulated widely among collectors, helping to establish his international reputation.

The subject matter deviates from Lorrain’s typical pastoral scenes, featuring a dramatic, almost theatrical architectural collapse. A massive structure identified as the Round Tower is violently split open, revealing a triumphal statue within. This figure, identified in the title as the King of the Romans, stands stoically amid the wreckage. The composition juxtaposes the monumental, ruptured tower with smaller figures in the foreground, including men observing the startling scene and several accompanying horses. The image embodies themes of historical allegory, contrasting imperial power and permanence with dramatic ruin and decay.

Unlike many of his pastoral scenes, Lorrain employs deep shadow and heightened drama in this print. The surviving editions, particularly the quality of these 17th-century prints, are highly valued by art historians. This important piece, The Round Tower Ruptured to Reveal the Statue of the King of the Romans, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Because of the age and widespread availability of etchings by this master, high-resolution reproductions of this work are often available in the public domain for research and study, ensuring the continued appreciation of Lorrain's distinctive graphic output.