(Paris 1733-1808) The temple of Antoninus Pius and Faustina, red chalk, on laid paper, dated 1762, 43 x 32,8 cm, mounted, framed, (Sch)

Provenance:
An anonymous collector’s mark (similar Lugt 1709); sale Paris, Drouot, April 30, 1924, lot 121; sale London, Christie's, July 4, 2000, lot 174; private collection, France.

The temple which is represented in this drawing is still existant at the Forum Romanum and was built by Emperor Antoninus Pius for his deceased wife Faustina in 141 after Christ. In the 11th century the temple was turned into the church S. Lorenzo in Miranda. The columns in cipollino marble are still preserved. In the early 17th century the cella and the lower part of the facade were reconstructed by Orazio Torriani (1602-1657); the colonade of columns was integrated in the porticus of the church. The upper part of the facade which is not seen in the drawing was finished in the Baroque style only towards the end of the 17th century. The appearance of the temple in the time of Hubert Robert was illustrated in an etching Piranesi in the "Vedute di Roma" (Hind 49). Robert may have chosen a low viewpoint of the temple and may have abandoned the pediment of the temple on purpose in order to suppress the baroque structures. He may have wanted to give the temple its look before the baroque elements were added.