Page of Rome: View of St Peters and the Vatican Seen from Prati Di Castello by WITTEL, Caspar Andriaans van in the Web Gallery of Art, a searchable image collection and database of European paintings and sculptures (1100-1850)

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Rome: View of St Peter's and the Vatican Seen from Prati Di Castello

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Oil on canvas, 46 x 76 cm
Private collection

This picture is taken from the point of view of a traveller approaching the Eternal City through the area of meadows to the north-east, known as the Prati di Castello. The viewer is heading south-west along the old road leading to the Porta Angelica, which can be clearly seen on the left of the composition. Beyond the Porta Angelica can be seen the obelisk in the centre of the Piazza San Pietro, and to its right can be glimpsed the statues which adorn the top of Bernini's famous colonnade.