So-Called Casino di Raffaello in the Borghese Gardens - Jean-Thomas Thibault

A detailed architectural study by Jean-Thomas Thibault, capturing the Casino di Raffaello in Rome with ink and watercolour.

This architectural study by Jean-Thomas Thibault captures the structure known as the Casino di Raffaello within the Borghese Gardens in Rome. Thibault, a French architect and draughtsman, produced this work during his time in Italy, where he documented the classical and vernacular architecture of the region. The drawing demonstrates his precise approach to recording the physical reality of the site, moving beyond the idealised visions common to the period.

The composition focuses on the verticality of the tower, contrasted against the characteristic umbrella pines of the Roman gardens. Thibault employs a restrained palette of muted earth tones, using ink for the structural outlines and watercolour washes to suggest the texture of weathered brickwork and plaster. The inclusion of laundry hanging from the upper balcony provides a sense of daily life, grounding the architectural subject in a specific, lived-in context. A plume of smoke rises from the chimney, adding a transient element to the otherwise static stone form.

Thibault was trained in the tradition of the Académie Royale d'Architecture, and his work reflects the rigorous observation required of students on the Grand Tour. This piece functions as a record of the building's condition at the turn of the nineteenth century. The drawing is executed with a focus on clarity and proportion, avoiding unnecessary ornamentation. It offers a view into the intersection of historical architecture and the mundane activities of the inhabitants of Rome during this era. The work remains a useful document for those interested in the history of the Borghese estate and the documentation methods employed by French architects working abroad during the late eighteenth century.