Santa Maria della Rotonda in Albano was formerly the nympheum of Domitian's Villa. Circular in form, the cupola which was open to the sky was closed in 1670. Albano was established as a military town in the reign of the Emperor Septimus Severus.
Sir Richard Colt Hoare, second Baronet (1758-1838) was devoted to the region around Rome and made two trips there in 1785 and 1788. The present drawing dates from 1789 when Sir Richard took Labruzzi as 'companion and artist' on an expedition on the Via Appia from Rome to Brindisi. The intention was to publish an account of the journey with engravings by Labruzzi. Bad weather and the ill health of Labruzzi meant that they were unable to complete the journey and the book was never written. Several hundred watercolours were drawn on the spot which were then copied in sepia with the aim of them being engraved. Colt Hoare had published two books about the region prior to the second trip to Italy: Hints to Travellers in Italy, 1815 and A Classical Tour through Italy and Sicily, tending to Illustrate some Districts which have not been described by Mr. Eustace in his Classical Tour, 1819