Original Watercolours and Vintage Photographs 1876-1897
Want to take a trip back in time? La Roma di Ettore Roesler Franz offers a glance at Rome in the late 19th century through 40 original watercolour paintings, as well as 48 vintage photographs. Roesler’s illustrations perfectly capture the details of la vita Romana at a time when Rome’s Renaissance and Baroque architecture was still limited to medieval walls.
In 1871, Rome became secular and was no longer under the rule of the church. A new Liberal r
egime meant that many of the old walls and buildings were to be demolished to make room for an expanding city. Roesler truly captured life in the streets of Rome, portraying a medieval city on the brink of modernization. We see a changing time, when the cobblestone streets were bustling with vendors, children, and horse-drawn carriages. The detailing of the brightness and light in his watercolours bring the heart of popular neighbourhoods such as Trastevere, Testaccio and the Ghetto to life.
Roesler recorded the metamorphosis of Rome over a period of 35 years and 1000 watercolours. In 1883, he created Picturesque Rome, Memoirs of an Era that Passes, a series of 40 watercolour pieces widely used in postcards and stamps today that featured popular jewels such as Aventine Hill, Piramide, and the Tiber river.
The current exhibit now allows visitors to see the complete 120 series from a touchscreen, with each painting organized by neighbourhood on a vintage map. Step outside the museum and you’ll find yourself in the heart of Trastevere. Take a walk through the winding cobblestone streets, and notice the old walls and rooftops similar to the ones depicted in Roesler’s watercolours– you might just imagine yourself strolling back in time.
Till 13th September 2015
Museo di Roma Trastevere
Piazza S.Egidio, 1/b
Tues-Sun 10am-8pm
Entry fee €8.50
My 105 year old Aunt died last year who was from Italy, (she came to American when she was 5 years old), she left many things that was her parents. Right now I am trying to find out something about several prints she had in a professional looking folder written in Italian with many pages of black & white pictures with the Ettore Roesler-Franz, typed under the picture and a description or name of picture. Then in parathesis it has these words (Acquarello nel Museo di Roma) above in the right hand corner, there is the letters TAV. IC, TAV CVIII., TAV CVL., TAV. XCVII., etc. also in every bottom left hand corner in small print, it reads, DANESI-ROMA. Can you tell me what these prints are, are they worth anything, they are also in a large flolder. Thank you very much. Cathy Murphy