You may have seen that I recently worked on a ‘Rome’ commission for Piccolo Buco. It consisted of several painted dioramas of the restaurant and nearby fountain facade. Although I enjoyed grappling with those fiddly paper layers, the fountain scene in particular was crying out for a good canvas version. I wanted to get stuck into more of those architectural details that sometimes get cut away in creating the boxed dioramas. There’s certainly no lack of detail to be picked out within the Trevi Fountain.
The backdrop is the Roman Palace ‘Palazzo Poli’, with a giant order of Corinthian pilasters. Its triumphal arch frames the focal point of the fountains… the sculpt ed figure of Oceanus, with Tritons guiding his shell chariot. Taming of the waters is the theme of the gigantic scheme that tumbles forward, mixing water and rocks, filling the small square.
Trevi Fountain Details
Here’s a quick video showing some of those brush marks and line details. My painting was completed with acrylic and inks on 30 x 30cm canvas, presented within a floater frame.
A New Travel Series?
I always have a stack of concepts, sketches or vague ambitions on my desk for things to work on next. But I have been developing a new travel series and hope to reveal a bit more soon. This Rome inspired project has helped spur me back to those ideas.
I have also had some wonderful correspondence of late, some brilliant postcards and suggestions. So many places study and find colour… your favourite places may well become one of my next illustrations. If you would like to get in touch you can send me a message using the contact form. Or you can find/follow me on one of my socials: https://linktr.ee/illustrationbyjonathan.
