School of Hubert Robert (French 18th century) “Plan de l’Aiguille”

“Plan de l’Aiguille,” A Roman Truncated Pyramid in Vienne, France, 1768)

Watercolor on paper, 5 3/8 x 7 ¾ inches

Annotated, “à Vienne au Dauphine le 30 Sept 1768”

This monument, a truncated pyramid resting on a portico with four Roman arches, is a survivor from Roman times circa 2nd century AD; it would have been sited on the “spina” of a Roman circus in Vienne. It has been speculated that it was to have been the final resting place of Pontius Pilate!