The Bibliotheca Hertziana in Rome preserves in its graphic collection 97 drawings of views of the city of Rome and the Roman Campagna, which were bound in three albums when they were acquired at the beginning of the 20th century. A carefully executed and signed drawing with the portrait of the famous artist Felice Giani (1758–1823) on the first sheet suggests that he also drew the other drawings and that they are direct and atmospheric studies of nature and monuments. However, this is a marketing ploy, as almost all of the sheets are literal but more ephemeral copies of drawings by the Slovenian artist Franz Caucig (1755–1828), who was in Rome from around 1780–1787. Since Caucig, who later became director of the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, took all his drawings with him when he left the city, the Hertziana drawings must have been copied before his departure in 1787.
This online exhibition juxtaposes the copies with the originals. While the originals are carefully executed, the copies are more immediate and executed with less care, giving the impression of having been drawn quickly and directly on the spot, with hasty strokes and dark and contrasting washes. This certainly appealed to buyers who, in addition to purchasing carefully executed drawings and engravings, also wanted to acquire and own a testimony of the immediate travel experience.                          
While focusing on this group of drawings, the exhibition also presents another important work from the Hertziana collection that can be linked to the art market of the Grand Tour around 1800. The magnificent view of Rome, including the so-called Tempietto of the Palazzo Zuccari, was painted by the English artist John Newbolt (1803/05–1867), who also made several almost identical copies. These works are complemented by some contemporary and illustrated publications.
The online exhibition follows the structure of the on-site exhibition in the Sala Terrena of Palazzo Zuccari, adding information on the general theme and the individual exhibits.