Basilica of Constantine, formerly called the Temple of Peace, in the Forum
| Artist | Robert Macpherson (Scottish, 1815–1872) |
|---|---|
| Title | Basilica of Constantine, formerly called the Temple of Peace, in the Forum |
| Date | Ca. 1858 |
| Medium | Albumen print |
| Dimensions | Image: 10 1/4 × 16 3/4 in. (26 × 42.5 cm) Mount: 19 1/4 × 25 13/16 in. (48.9 × 65.6 cm) |
| Credit Line | Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University |
| Accession Number | 80.96.1 |
| This artwork is currently off display. You may be able to see this artwork by filling out an art viewing room request. | |
This black-and-white image depicts ruined, ancient architecture and modern tools and debris surrounding the ruins. The main structure has three arches at its front.
Robert MacPherson—who opened a studio in Rome in 1858—was one of a growing number of commercial photographers to capitalize on the burgeoning tourist trade in Europe and on the advancements in photographic technology. Specializing in classical archeological sites, he used large glass plate negatives to capture their “moldering grandeur.” Like his clients, MacPherson looked toward older precedents—such as Piranesi’s prints—to determine which monuments were a “must see.” While he chose similar views and mimicked their picturesque conventions, his photographs are less exaggerated, generally devoid of figures, and contain more documentary details. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art’s collection includes another view of the Roman Forum by MacPherson (Eskenazi Museum of Art 82.9.3).
Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.
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"Basilica of Constantine, formerly called the Temple of Peace, in the Forum | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=80.96.1