# <Capriccio> with Ruins

- By: Louis Jean Desprez (Auxerre, 1743–1804)
- Date: 1771
- Medium: paper
- Classification: print
- Dimensions: height 341 mm x width 240 mm
- Credit line: Purchased with the support of the F.G. Waller-Fonds
- Museum: [Rijksmuseum](https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection/object/RP-P-1987-51--97a594ca6319f7836b822437832d0641)
- Rights: [Public Domain Mark](http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/)
- Picture: https://iiif.micr.io/sMMIU/full/!1920,1080/0/default.jpg
- Who can see it: Kids profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

This charming etching is characteristic of Desprez’s early works made in France before his Italian sojourn. As a trained architect, he was able to combine elements of classical buildings in an imaginary composition, or &lt; capriccio &gt;. Lush vegetation has taken over this ruin, adding to its poetic appeal. Later on, Desprez would draw inspiration for his stage sets from such architectural fantasies.