A capriccio of Rome with the Colosseum and the Arch of Constantine

Van Bloemen's idealized, imaginary views of the Roman campagna incorporating famous Roman ruins had particular appeal to foreign tourists on the Grand Tour. He painted several variants of the present composition, maintaining the same architectural backdrop to the seated and conversant travellers in the foreground. These include that offered at Christie's, London, 2 December 1983, lot 94, and the painting in the Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen, Inv. no. 707 (see A. Busiri Vici, Orizzonte, 1974, p. 213, no. 221, pl. 240).