Timeless Rome in Perspective (Weekly Challenge #194)
- Natalia C.
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
This week, we’re heading to Rome, the heart of ancient architecture and perspective mastery!
Our reference photos come from @sara_watercolor_, who captured these images during her recent Christmas holiday in the city she still calls home, even after almost 20 years away.
She shares: “Every time I return, I can't help but visit the historic center, especially the Colosseum and Arch of Constantine, which are featured in these photos. During the holidays, the entire Via dei Fori Imperiali from the Colosseum to the Altar of the Fatherland is full of tourists, making it hard to take perfect pictures, but filling the Eternal City with joy and life.”
This week, we’re invited not only to paint monumental landmarks but to observe and structure them through linear perspective. With powerful forms and subtle angles, these references are the perfect practice ground.
Focus Point: Linear Perspective
Linear perspective helps create convincing depth and structure in your compositions, particularly when depicting buildings, arches, roads, or repeated forms. Rome with its timeless architectural silhouettes offers us a chance to slow down and build strong underlying drawings.
Whether you’re working with one-point or two-point setups, our featured guide will walk you through: Linear Perspective Made Easy: A Beginner's Guide for Artists
Use this week’s challenge to:
Spot vanishing points and define eye level
Guide the viewer using converging lines
Reinforce depth with correct angles and alignment
Ask yourself:
Where is the viewer standing — and how can I show that?
Which lines recede, and where do they meet?
Can I simplify the forms into basic geometric blocks first?
Photo-by-Photo Analysis
Photo 1: Colosseum and Tall Pine
A wide view of the Colosseum with its soft elliptical arc and a pine tree framing the front.
Challenge as a Photo: The organic shape of the pine contrasts with the curves of the Colosseum. Capturing the curvature with accurate perspective is the main test here.
Focus Questions:
Where does the curve flatten out along the horizon?
Can I use ellipses and repetition to create flow?
How does the foreground tree help establish spatial layers?
Tips:
Sketch the base ellipse first to anchor the arc.
Use the rhythm of the arches to maintain structure.
Let the pine trunk act as a vertical anchor.
Keep your vanishing lines gentle and clean.
Photo 2: Crowds and Shadowed Side View
A dramatic side view, with light passing through the arcade and crowds creating scale.
Challenge as a Photo: The Colosseum’s layered depth and horizontal receding forms demand careful vanishing point alignment.
Focus Questions:
Where do the horizontal rows vanish?
How does light help define structure?
Can the figures be simplified into perspective boxes?
Tips:
Start with a strong horizon line.
Use arches as horizontal intervals.
Let the shadows help build form.
Simplify crowd shapes while maintaining scale consistency.
Photo 3: Colosseum from the Side with Fence
A clean architectural view, showcasing angles and layering.
Challenge as a Photo: This image is perfect for practicing two-point perspective with balanced verticals.
Focus Questions:
Which lines go to each vanishing point?
Are the verticals truly upright?
How do repeated fence posts reinforce depth?
Tips:
Mark two vanishing points early.
Block the forms as boxes before adding detail.
Use the fence rhythm to check consistency.
Watch the scale shift as forms recede.
Photo 4: Arch of Constantine Framed by Trees
The arch stands sunlit behind tree silhouettes and distant figures.
Challenge as a Photo: Merging natural framing with perspective rules can be tricky.
Focus Questions:
How can trees frame the structure without flattening space?
Where’s the eye level in this setup?
Are my verticals balanced?
Tips:
Place the horizon first, then block in the arch.
Use tree spacing and overlap to show depth.
Let foreground shapes darken to push space.
Keep your edges crisp on the architecture.
Rome’s grandeur doesn’t need to be fully captured, it just needs to be thoughtfully observed. This week is your chance to build confidence with linear perspective in an inspiring setting. It’s a great moment to practice planning, spacing, and structure.
Submit your artwork by Thursday, 22 January 2026 at 23:59 CET with hashtag #landscapeartclub194 and tag @landscapeartclub.
Looking for more architectural scenes? Explore the Urban and Historical categories in the Reference Library.
Happy Painting!
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