Fourth View of the Colosseum

Hieronymus Cock

National Gallery of Art

The image shows the Roman Colosseum in a state of partial ruin. The perspective is at eye level, displaying the inner structure with its arches and pathways. Vegetation is subtly visible in the background. The detailed etching technique creates texture and shadows in the stone arches and ground. The color palette is monochromatic in shades of black, gray, and white. Small figures are seen in the distance, providing scale to the ruins. Birds are depicted in flight in the lightly shaded sky.