A delicate watercolour and ink study by Carlo Labruzzi, depicting the weathered arches of an ancient Roman aqueduct on the road to Cori.

This work by Carlo Labruzzi captures the remnants of an ancient Roman aqueduct situated along the route to Cori, a town in the Lazio region of Italy. Labruzzi, a Roman painter and engraver, produced a significant series of drawings during his travels along the Via Appia in the late eighteenth century. His approach combines topographical accuracy with a sensitive use of wash to convey the atmospheric conditions of the Italian countryside.

The composition is defined by a low horizon line, which allows the expansive, cloud-filled sky to dominate the upper portion of the sheet. In the middle distance, the rhythmic, broken arches of the aqueduct stretch across the frame, serving as a reminder of the region's classical history. The foreground is rendered with loose, gestural ink strokes that suggest the uneven, rocky terrain of the path. Labruzzi employs a restrained palette of sepia, grey, and muted ochre, which aligns with the aesthetic conventions of the Grand Tour era. The application of watercolour is light and transparent, allowing the texture of the paper to remain visible throughout the image.

Labruzzi's work is often associated with the documentation of antiquities that were becoming popular subjects for European travellers. Unlike more dramatic interpretations of ruins common in the period, this drawing maintains a quiet, observational quality. The focus remains on the integration of the structure into the natural environment, showing how the architecture has weathered over centuries. This print offers a clear view of Labruzzi's technical skill in balancing architectural detail with the fluid qualities of watercolour, providing a window into the historical documentation of the Italian peninsula during the late eighteenth century.