View of the Campo Boario in Rome

The subject

The view depicted in this painting is that of the Campo Boario area, in which we clearly recognize the Temple of Portunus, later transformed into the Church of Saint Mary of Egypt, and the circular Temple of Vesta on the right side of the painting, while in the distance we see the Church of Saint Mary in Cosmedin with the Circus Maximus behind it.

The Church of Saint Mary of Egypt in the foreground, whose structure today is quite different, was built in the 9th century within the building known in Roman times as the Temple of Portunus, initially consecrated to Saint Mary Secundecerii. The church was demolished in the early 20th century to restore the ancient appearance of the temple, but the frescos narrating the story of Saint Mary of Egypt were preserved and are still visible today.

The painting
This beautiful example of Roman Vedutism can be dated to the 18th century, a period in which this genre of painting was extremely popular in the papal city, attracting not only Italian artists to the banks of the Tiber but also those from other areas of Europe.