Landscape with the Arch of Constantine & Landscape with the Colosseum

When Marble Hill House first opened to the public in 1903, the magnificent Great Room had been stripped of its original decorative scheme including five Roman landscapes by Panini. Originally, these had been fitted into the elaborate carved panelling as four overdoors and an overmantel and formed an integral part of the decoration of the splendid central chamber modelled on the 'Single Cube' room at Wilton. On rediscovery, the Paninis have now been secured for permanent display in the historic house for which they were painted. The Art Fund gave a second grant towards two more Capriccio views of Rome from the series acquired at the same time.