Roesler Franz was born in Rome and was passionate about the city of his birth.
He was a true modern master of the difficult techniques used in watercolours.
Ettore Roesler Franz used his art to bear witness to the tremendous changes that took place in Rome once it had been proclaimed capital of Italy in 1870 and following the city’s last, disastrous flood at the end of that same year.
Via e Chiesa di San Bonota dietro la Fortrezza degli Anguillara 1888
After Rome flooded, a rapid modernization swept through the city. Fearing the loss of its historical integrity, Ettore painted and photograph the parts of the city being redeveloped and those most at risk of being demolished and disappearing forever, in particular, along the banks of the River Tiber – where existing buildings were destroyed in order to make way for the high retaining walls of the embankment built as a defence against future floods – as well as Piazza Venezia, the Ghetto and the historic districts of Borgo, Trastevere and Monti all of which lost important architectural, artistic and other urban features that represented Rome’s past.
His most famous work is a series of 120 aquerelles named "Roma sparita" (disappeared Rome), where he portrayed with great realism parts of the city which he supposed were going to be destroyed in the effort to modernize it. These paintings are now at the Museo di Roma in Palazzo Braschi.
La Via Fiumara nel Ghetto inondata
In 1902 he was portrayed by Giacomo Balla in a famous painting exhibited at the Biennale of Venezia. He died in Rome in 1907.
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