Graphite pen, ink and watercolor on paper
32 x 23 cm
in a frame 51 x 42 cm
condition:
fresh and warm colors, a few bites in the sky imperceptible at a distance of one meter. very beautiful rendering of the architecture of the ruins and the colors.
The subject:
The Temple of Hercules Olivarius, sometimes identified as the Temple of Hercules Victor, is a round-shaped temple dating from the Roman Republic (late 2nd century BC), built on the Boarium forum in Rome. In modern times it is located in the western part of piazza della Bocca della Verità, integrated into a public garden where the temple of Portunus is also located. It is the oldest monument in the city, almost entirely made of marble, which has been preserved until modern times. It owes its remarkable preservation to its transformation into a church in the Middle Ages; it was restored to its ancient form in the 19th century like other Roman monuments. Identified for a long time and wrongly as a temple dedicated to Vesta due to its circular shape, it was recognized in the 20th century as dedicated to Hercules Olivarius. The last restoration campaign concerning it took place from 1996 to 1998.
The artist:
Louis-Henri Laffillée, or Henri Laffillée (1859-1947) is a French architect, chief architect of historical monuments and diocesan architect. Henri Laffillée was a student at the École des Beaux-Arts, in the class of 1876. He was a student of Charles Laisné and Léon Ginain. During his schooling, he received the first Rougevin prize, the Chaudesaignes prize. He graduated from the school in 1885. In 1879, he was appointed inspector attached to the works of Reims Cathedral, a position he held until at least 1885. He joined the Historic Monuments Service in 1890. He carried out numerous surveys of mural paintings for the Historic Monuments Commission. He was appointed chief architect of historic monuments in 1898. He was responsible for the historic monuments of Lozère, Sarthe, the district of Sceaux, Rhône, Loire, Ain and Sainte-Catherine. Chapel. He participated in the restoration of the Château des Milandes.