“This serene watercolor transports you to the Roman countryside, capturing a timeless view of Horace's ancient villa. Its delicate rendering and soft light invite a moment of quiet reflection on history and nature.”
In this tranquil watercolor, a small group of figures gathers near the ruins of what is believed to be Horace's ancient villa, nestled in the picturesque Italian countryside. The scene is bathed in a soft, diffused light, highlighting the gentle undulations of the landscape and the weathered stones of the classical remnants. The artist, William Havell, rendered this view around 1828, during a period when he traveled through Italy, capturing its timeless beauty. The composition draws the eye through the pastoral setting, past the humble dwellings, towards the distant hills. It evokes a sense of quiet contemplation, inviting us to imagine the rich history embedded in this particular patch of earth near Rome.
- Artist
- William Havell
- Date
- 1828
- Medium
- Watercolor and gouache (bodycolor) over graphite
- Location
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Dimensions
- sheet: 10 11/16 x 14 13/16 in. (27.2 x 37.6 cm)
- Collection
- Drawings and Prints
- Credit line
- Gift of Alexander B.V. Johnson and Roberta J.M. Olson, in memory of E. Dudley H. Johnson and Laurie Vance Johnson, 2004
What to Notice
Five details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.
The subtle texture of the watercolor and gouache, giving depth to the foliage.
The small figures near the ruins, offering a sense of scale to the ancient site.
The way the light gently illuminates the distant hills and the valley below.
The delicate graphite lines visible beneath the paint, hinting at the initial sketch.
1 more detail is waiting.
See all 5 in Art Whisper →Stand in front of it and listen
The full narration walks you through Licenza, near Rome: Horace's Villa — the story behind it, the details most visitors miss, and why it matters. Free in the Art Whisper app.
William Havell
1782–1857 · Kingdom of Great BritainWilliam Havell, a founding member of the Society of Painters in Watercolours, captured the dramatic landscapes of Wales and the Lake District before embarking on a global journey.
Further Works by Havell
Woodcutters at Park Place, Henley, the River Thames Beyond
1821 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Cilgerran Castle
1805 · National Museum Cardiff
Yachts of the Cumberland Society Racing on the Thames, circa 1815
1815 · Royal Museums Greenwich
Indian Army Officer
1822 · Reading Museum
Lieutenant Colonel William Lambton (1756–1823)
1822 · Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland
Temple of Paestum, Italy
1830 · Reading Museum
Tivoli, Italy
1830 · Reading Museum
Figures at an Arcadian Fountain (Fountain of Egeria)
1840 · Reading Museum
More works to explore
Beyond Havell: works from the same years.
Same era · 1810s–1840s
The Estuary Farm
Léon-Victor Dupré · 1831 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1810s–1840s
Sketch for ‘East Cowes Castle, the Regatta Starting for Their Moorings’ No. 2
J. M. W. Turner · 1827 · National Gallery
Same era · 1810s–1840s
The Combat of the Giaour and Hassan
Eugène Delacroix · 1826 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1810s–1840s
The Fortune Teller (La Bonne Aventure)
Jacques-Louis David · 1824 · Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
Same era · 1810s–1840s
Amédée-David, the Comte de Pastoret
Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres · 1823 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1810s–1840s
Saturn Devouring His Son
Francisco Goya · 1820 · Museo del Prado
Same era · 1810s–1840s
Two Men Contemplating the Moon
Caspar David Friedrich · 1819 · Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden
Same era · 1810s–1840s
The Captive Slave (Ira Aldridge)
John Philip Simpson · 1827 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1810s–1840s
Mr. James Mackie
Samuel Alcock & Company · 1830 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1810s–1840s
The Five Points
Artist Unknown - The Mercat Cross, Aberdeen · 1822 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1810s–1840s
Conflagration of the Masonic Hall, Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Samuel Jones · 1819 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1810s–1840s
Woman in a Blue Dress
School of William Matthew Prior · 1840 · Art Institute of Chicago