Charles Michel-Ange Challe

Trained as an architect but later to become a painter, Challe attended the French Academy in Rome from 1742 to 1749, an unusually long period of time. His drawings reflect his study of Giovanni Battista Piranesi’s bold style and dramatic compositional effects. Challe is often credited with bringing the Italian master’s approach to France. The study on view may depict the Flavian Amphitheater (the Colosseum). It evokes a romantic vision of the ancient Roman ruin that inspired artists, collectors, and travelers taking the Grand Tour of Europe’s cultural monuments.