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🎨 An Architectural Capriccio of the Roman Forum with Philosophers and Soldiers among Ancient Ruins, including the Arch of Janus Quadrifrons, the Sarcophagus of Santa Constanza, the Farnese Hercules and the Cincinnatus, c. 1745 - 1750 by Giovanni Paolo Panini 🇮🇹 oil on canvas, 98.4 x 135 cm National Museum of Western Art, Japan About the artwork: This painting, as suggested by its title, is a complex architectural fantasy that combines various famous Roman landmarks and sculptures within a single composition. The Arch of Janus Quadrifrons, known for its four-faced structure, and the Sarcophagus of Santa Constanza, along with the renowned Farnese Hercules statue and a depiction of Cincinnatus, an exemplar of Roman virtue, are all elements that Panini masterfully integrates into a cohesive scene. In this capriccio, Panini would typically arrange the architectural elements amidst the ruins, with philosophers and soldiers populating the scene, possibly engaging in debate or contemplation.

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