ROME
on stainless steel Photographs printed on stainless steel
Rome is called Caput Mundi—the capital of the world. Capitals of the world are cherished in Nicolas Ruel’s visual journey through his interpretation that not only blends architecture, monuments and landscapes together, but also illustrates the heritage of these temples of History. His bold, innovative and singular approach to the resulting images becomes the rebirth of unconventional storytelling through a timeless crusade.
With a clear identity established in his photographic practice, Ruel combines and juxtaposes with his signature double exposure technique not only images, but different layers of myths and legends. Playing with contradictions between historical and modern, from the great significance of legacy and established traditions to the importance of historical heritage, every city is an archeological study of representation. His series reflects the symbolist chronicles underlining the importance of every capital in the world, their roots and their styles from Neoclassical to Baroque, from Ancient History until today.
Read moreIn Ruel’s Rome project, which spans over ten years, we are invited to discover—and rediscover—The Eternal City under new angles and interpret a substratum. From the Vatican, the Pantheon and the Colosseum to landmarks and addresses like the Trevi Fountain, the Via Condotti and the Piazza del Campidoglio, the most iconic buildings, statues and streets become timeless masterpieces that reveal unexpected and buried details of the City of Illusions.
Playing with proportions, geometry, light and motion, Ruel turns our attention to subtle and delicate details that form a narrative, from the polychromy of the Carrara marble found in the seven hills’ legendary neighborhoods to the uneven charm of Rome’s cobblestone streets and alleys, decorative motifs and Latin engravings. After the Spanish Steps, the Vatican’s double helix staircase, the statues of Oceanus and the Tritons, Bernini’s masterpieces and Borromini’s prospettiva, we uncover the Pantheon’s checkerboard floor contrasting with the concentric circles of the square coffers of the famous dome, which can be perceived as a reminder of both the historical teachings drawn from the pages of Roman records and also of pop culture imagery, including the virtuosity of Italian Arts masters and cinematographic backdrops from Fellini’s cult movies like Roma and La Dolce Vita, whose unforgettable scenes feature icons of cinema. Past and present are connected with visual memories of an impalpable atmosphere and intangible beauty that stir emotions in viewers. As if all roads lead to Rome…
– Thierry-Maxime Loriot
TEATRO DELLA MEMORIA
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 36 in / 61 x 91 cm edition of 5
40 x 60 in / 102 x 152 cm edition of 5
48 x 72 in / 122 x 183 cm edition of 1
RAYS OF HISTORY
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 48 in / 61 x 122 cm edition of 5
40 x 80 in / 102 x 204 cm edition of 5
48 x 96 in / 122 x 244 cm edition of 1
ANGELO
Rome, Italy, 2022
36 x 24 in / 91 x 61 cm edition of 5
60 x 40 in / 152 x 102 cm edition of 5
72 x 48 in / 183 x 122 cm edition of 1
TEVERE II
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 36 in / 61 x 91 cm edition of 5
40 x 60 in / 102 x 152 cm edition of 5
48 x 72 in / 122 x 183 cm edition of 1
ECHOES OF TIME
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 48 in / 61 x 122 cm edition of 5
40 x 80 in / 102 x 204 cm edition of 5
48 x 96 in / 122 x 244 cm edition of 1
AFTERNOON DELIGHT
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 48 in / 61 x 122 cm edition of 5
40 x 80 in / 102 x 204 cm edition of 5
48 x 96 in / 122 x 244 cm edition of 1
WINDOW TO THE PAST
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 24 in / 61 x 61 cm edition of 5
40 x 40 in / 102 x 102 cm edition of 5
48 x 48 in / 122 x 122 cm edition of 1
PIAZZA DEL POPOLO
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 24 in / 61 x 61 cm edition of 5
40 x 40 in / 102 x 102 cm edition of 5
48 x 48 in / 122 x 122 cm edition of 1
EREDITÀ DEL TEMPO
Rome, Italy, 2020
24 x 72 in / 61 x 183 cm edition of 5
30 x 90 in / 76 x 229 cm edition of 5
40 x 120 in / 102 x 305 cm edition of 1
FRAMING HISTORY
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 36 in / 61 x 91 cm edition of 5
40 x 60 in / 102 x 152 cm edition of 5
48 x 72 in / 122 x 183 cm edition of 1
PIAZZA VENEZIA
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 48 in / 61 x 122 cm edition of 5
40 x 80 in / 102 x 204 cm edition of 5
48 x 96 in / 122 x 244 cm edition of 1
COESISTENZA
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 36 in / 61 x 91 cm edition of 5
40 x 60 in / 102 x 152 cm edition of 5
48 x 72 in / 122 x 183 cm edition of 1
VITTORIANO
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 48 in / 61 x 122 cm edition of 5
40 x 80 in / 102 x 204 cm edition of 5
48 x 96 in / 122 x 244 cm edition of 1
URBAN VISION
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 36 in / 61 x 91 cm edition of 5
40 x 60 in / 102 x 152 cm edition of 5
48 x 72 in / 122 x 183 cm edition of 1
SOPHIA
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 24 in / 61 x 61 cm edition of 5
40 x 40 in / 102 x 102 cm edition of 5
48 x 48 in / 122 x 122 cm edition of 1
CHROMATIC MOSAIC
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 24 in / 61 x 61 cm edition of 5
40 x 40 in / 102 x 102 cm edition of 5
48 x 48 in / 122 x 122 cm edition of 1
INTERSECTION OF TIME
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 48 in / 61 x 122 cm edition of 5
40 x 80 in / 102 x 204 cm edition of 5
48 x 96 in / 122 x 244 cm edition of 1
MOMENTI DI STORIA
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 48 in / 61 x 122 cm edition of 5
40 x 80 in / 102 x 204 cm edition of 5
48 x 96 in / 122 x 244 cm edition of 1
PIAZZA DEL CAMPIDOGLIO
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 36 in / 61 x 91 cm edition of 5
40 x 60 in / 102 x 152 cm edition of 5
48 x 72 in / 122 x 183 cm edition of 1
CITY IN MOTION
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 36 in / 61 x 91 cm edition of 5
40 x 60 in / 102 x 152 cm edition of 5
48 x 72 in / 122 x 183 cm edition of 1
ROSA E CORALLO
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 24 in / 61 x 61 cm edition of 5
40 x 40 in / 102 x 102 cm edition of 5
48 x 48 in / 122 x 122 cm edition of 1
AZALEE IN PRIMAVERA
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 24 in / 61 x 61 cm edition of 5
40 x 40 in / 102 x 102 cm edition of 5
48 x 48 in / 122 x 122 cm edition of 1
PIAZZA SAN PIETRO
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 36 in / 61 x 91 cm edition of 5
40 x 60 in / 102 x 152 cm edition of 5
48 x 72 in / 122 x 183 cm edition of 1
DOUBLE HELIX
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 36 in / 61 x 91 cm edition of 5
40 x 60 in / 102 x 152 cm edition of 5
48 x 72 in / 122 x 183 cm edition of 1
ALTAR
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 24 in / 61 x 61 cm edition of 5
40 x 40 in / 102 x 102 cm edition of 5
48 x 48 in / 122 x 122 cm edition of 1
TRIBUTE
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 24 in / 61 x 61 cm edition of 5
40 x 40 in / 102 x 102 cm edition of 5
48 x 48 in / 122 x 122 cm edition of 1
RENAISSANCE
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 48 in / 61 x 122 cm edition of 5
40 x 80 in / 102 x 204 cm edition of 5
48 x 96 in / 122 x 244 cm edition of 1
SECRET WORLD
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 24 in / 61 x 61 cm edition of 5
40 x 40 in / 102 x 102 cm edition of 5
48 x 48 in / 122 x 122 cm edition of 1
LEGEND OF THE PAST
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 24 in / 61 x 61 cm edition of 5
40 x 40 in / 102 x 102 cm edition of 5
48 x 48 in / 122 x 122 cm edition of 1
MOON GODDESS
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 36 in / 61 x 91 cm edition of 5
40 x 60 in / 102 x 152 cm edition of 5
48 x 72 in / 122 x 183 cm edition of 1
FORO ROMANO II
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 24 in / 61 x 61 cm edition of 5
40 x 40 in / 102 x 102 cm edition of 5
48 x 48 in / 122 x 122 cm edition of 1
WITNESS OF HISTORY
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 48 in / 61 x 122 cm edition of 5
40 x 80 in / 102 x 204 cm edition of 5
48 x 96 in / 122 x 244 cm edition of 1
TIME CAPSULE
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 36 in / 61 x 91 cm edition of 5
40 x 60 in / 102 x 152 cm edition of 5
48 x 72 in / 122 x 183 cm edition of 1
PANTHEON IV
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 24 in / 61 x 61 cm edition of 5
40 x 40 in / 102 x 102 cm edition of 5
48 x 48 in / 122 x 122 cm edition of 1
PANTHEON V
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 24 in / 61 x 61 cm edition of 5
40 x 40 in / 102 x 102 cm edition of 5
48 x 48 in / 122 x 122 cm edition of 1
PANTHEON VI
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 24 in / 61 x 61 cm edition of 5
40 x 40 in / 102 x 102 cm edition of 5
48 x 48 in / 122 x 122 cm edition of 1
PANTHEON VII
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 24 in / 61 x 61 cm edition of 5
40 x 40 in / 102 x 102 cm edition of 5
48 x 48 in / 122 x 122 cm edition of 1
SALA DEI RICORDI
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 48 in / 61 x 122 cm edition of 5
40 x 80 in / 102 x 204 cm edition of 5
48 x 96 in / 122 x 244 cm edition of 1
PALAZZO NUOVO
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 36 in / 61 x 91 cm edition of 5
40 x 60 in / 102 x 152 cm edition of 5
48 x 72 in / 122 x 183 cm edition of 1
PONTE CESTIO
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 36 in / 61 x 91 cm edition of 5
40 x 60 in / 102 x 152 cm edition of 5
48 x 72 in / 122 x 183 cm edition of 1
PONTE SANT ANGELO
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 48 in / 61 x 122 cm edition of 5
40 x 80 in / 102 x 204 cm edition of 5
48 x 96 in / 122 x 244 cm edition of 1
ARMONIA
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 36 in / 61 x 91 cm edition of 5
40 x 60 in / 102 x 152 cm edition of 5
48 x 72 in / 122 x 183 cm edition of 1
APPOLLO E DAFNE
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 24 in / 61 x 61 cm edition of 5
40 x 40 in / 102 x 102 cm edition of 5
48 x 48 in / 122 x 122 cm edition of 1
IL VELO ROSSO
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 36 in / 61 x 91 cm edition of 5
40 x 60 in / 102 x 152 cm edition of 5
48 x 72 in / 122 x 183 cm edition of 1
BORGHESE
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 36 in / 61 x 91 cm edition of 5
40 x 60 in / 102 x 152 cm edition of 5
48 x 72 in / 122 x 183 cm edition of 1
MITI E SOGNI
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 24 in / 61 x 61 cm edition of 5
40 x 40 in / 102 x 102 cm edition of 5
48 x 48 in / 122 x 122 cm edition of 1
THE BRINGER OF ECSTASIES
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 24 in / 61 x 61 cm edition of 5
40 x 40 in / 102 x 102 cm edition of 5
48 x 48 in / 122 x 122 cm edition of 1
VENUS DREAMS
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 36 in / 61 x 91 cm edition of 5
40 x 60 in / 102 x 152 cm edition of 5
48 x 72 in / 122 x 183 cm edition of 1
IMPRISSA
Rome, Italy, 2019
36 x 24 in / 91 x 61 cm edition of 5
60 x 40 in / 152 x 102 cm edition of 5
72 x 48 in / 183 x 122 cm edition of 1
ALBA
Rome, Italy, 2022
36 x 24 in / 91 x 61 cm edition of 5
60 x 40 in / 152 x 102 cm edition of 5
72 x 48 in / 183 x 122 cm edition of 1
UNSEEN BEAUTY
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 36 in / 61 x 91 cm edition of 5
40 x 60 in / 102 x 152 cm edition of 5
48 x 72 in / 122 x 183 cm edition of 1
LIQUID GOLD
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 36 in / 61 x 91 cm edition of 5
40 x 60 in / 102 x 152 cm edition of 5
48 x 72 in / 122 x 183 cm edition of 1
ROMA A MAGGIO
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 24 in / 61 x 61 cm edition of 5
40 x 40 in / 102 x 102 cm edition of 5
48 x 48 in / 122 x 122 cm edition of 1
FORUM II
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 48 in / 61 x 122 cm edition of 5
40 x 80 in / 102 x 204 cm edition of 5
48 x 96 in / 122 x 244 cm edition of 1
SINFONIA DI LUCE
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 48 in / 61 x 122 cm edition of 5
40 x 80 in / 102 x 204 cm edition of 5
48 x 96 in / 122 x 244 cm edition of 1
ETERNA ROMA
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 48 in / 61 x 122 cm edition of 5
40 x 80 in / 102 x 204 cm edition of 5
48 x 96 in / 122 x 244 cm edition of 1
PARASOL
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 24 in / 61 x 61 cm edition of 5
40 x 40 in / 102 x 102 cm edition of 5
48 x 48 in / 122 x 122 cm edition of 1
LUCE E OMBRA
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 36 in / 61 x 91 cm edition of 5
40 x 60 in / 102 x 152 cm edition of 5
48 x 72 in / 122 x 183 cm edition of 1
FORUM
Rome, Italy, 2017
24 x 48 in / 61 x 122 cm edition of 5
40 x 80 in / 102 x 204 cm edition of 5
48 x 96 in / 122 x 244 cm edition of 1
PIAZZA NAVONA
Rome, Italy, 2010
24 x 36 in / 61 x 91 cm edition of 5
40 x 60 in / 102 x 152 cm edition of 5
48 x 72 in / 122 x 183 cm edition of 1
ULTIMO FORUM
Rome, Italy, 2022
24 x 48 in / 61 x 122 cm edition of 5
40 x 80 in / 102 x 204 cm edition of 5
48 x 96 in / 122 x 244 cm edition of 1
PANTHEON I
Rome, Italy, 2019
24 x 24 in / 61 x 61 cm edition of 5
40 x 40 in / 102 x 102 cm edition of 5
48 x 48 in / 122 x 122 cm edition of 1
PANTHEON II
Rome, Italy, 2019
24 x 24 in / 61 x 61 cm edition of 5
40 x 40 in / 102 x 102 cm edition of 5
48 x 48 in / 122 x 122 cm edition of 1
PANTHEON III
Rome, Italy, 2019
24 x 24 in / 61 x 61 cm edition of 5
40 x 40 in / 102 x 102 cm edition of 5
48 x 48 in / 122 x 122 cm edition of 1
PROSPERO
Rome, Italy, 2019
24 x 24 in / 61 x 61 cm edition of 5
40 x 40 in / 102 x 102 cm edition of 5
48 x 48 in / 122 x 122 cm edition of 1
GLADIATOR
Rome, Italy, 2019
24 x 36 in / 61 x 91 cm edition of 5
40 x 60 in / 102 x 152 cm edition of 5
48 x 72 in / 122 x 183 cm edition of 1
GALLERIA DE LA MITOLOGIA
Rome, Italy, 2019
24 x 24 in / 61 x 61 cm edition of 5
40 x 40 in / 102 x 102 cm edition of 5
48 x 48 in / 122 x 122 cm edition of 1
FINZIONE
Rome, Italy, 2019
24 x 48 in / 61 x 122 cm edition of 5
40 x 80 in / 102 x 204 cm edition of 5
48 x 96 in / 122 x 244 cm edition of 1
ICONOGRAFIA
Rome, Italy, 2019
24 x 48 in / 61 x 122 cm edition of 5
40 x 80 in / 102 x 204 cm edition of 5
48 x 96 in / 122 x 244 cm edition of 1
CABINET OF VENUS
Rome, Italy, 2019
36 x 24 in / 91 x 61 cm edition of 5
60 x 40 in / 152 x 102 cm edition of 5
72 x 48 in / 183 x 122 cm edition of 1
CAPUT MUNDI
Rome, Italy, 2019
24 x 72 in / 61 x 183 cm edition of 5
30 x 90 in / 76 x 229 cm edition of 5
40 x 120 in / 102 x 305 cm edition of 1
ERIDITA
Rome, Italy, 2019
24 x 48 in / 61 x 122 cm edition of 5
40 x 80 in / 102 x 204 cm edition of 5
48 x 96 in / 122 x 244 cm edition of 1
TEVERE
Rome, Italy, 2019
24 x 36 in / 61 x 91 cm edition of 5
40 x 60 in / 102 x 152 cm edition of 5
48 x 72 in / 122 x 183 cm edition of 1
SUPERSCRIPTION
Rome, Italy, 2019
24 x 36 in / 61 x 91 cm edition of 5
40 x 60 in / 102 x 152 cm edition of 5
48 x 72 in / 122 x 183 cm edition of 1
VATICANO
Rome, Italy, 2019
24 x 48 in / 61 x 122 cm edition of 5
40 x 80 in / 102 x 204 cm edition of 5
48 x 96 in / 122 x 244 cm edition of 1
MASTERPIECE
Rome, Italy, 2010
24 x 48 in / 61 x 122 cm edition of 5
40 x 80 in / 102 x 204 cm edition of 5
48 x 96 in / 122 x 244 cm edition of 1
BOLERO
Rome, Italy, 2010
24 x 36 in / 61 x 91 cm edition of 5
40 x 60 in / 102 x 152 cm edition of 5
48 x 72 in / 122 x 183 cm edition of 1
ELICA
Rome, Italy, 2010
36 x 24 in / 91 x 61 cm edition of 5
60 x 40 in / 152 x 102 cm edition of 5
72 x 48 in / 183 x 122 cm edition of 1
BASILICA
Rome, Italy, 2010
36 x 24 in / 91 x 61 cm edition of 5
60 x 40 in / 152 x 102 cm edition of 5
72 x 48 in / 183 x 122 cm edition of 1
ROSACE
Rome, Italy, 2010
24 x 36 in / 61 x 91 cm edition of 5
40 x 60 in / 102 x 152 cm edition of 5
48 x 72 in / 122 x 183 cm edition of 1
LA LEÇON
Rome, Italy, 2017
24 x 24 in / 61 x 61 cm edition of 5
40 x 40 in / 102 x 102 cm edition of 5
48 x 48 in / 122 x 122 cm edition of 1
NARRAZIONE
Rome, Italy, 2017
24 x 36 in / 61 x 91 cm edition of 5
40 x 60 in / 102 x 152 cm edition of 5
48 x 72 in / 122 x 183 cm edition of 1
IMPERATOR
Rome, Italy, 2017
24 x 36 in / 61 x 91 cm edition of 5
40 x 60 in / 102 x 152 cm edition of 5
48 x 72 in / 122 x 183 cm edition of 1
MITOLOGIA
Rome, Italy, 2019
24 x 36 in / 61 x 91 cm edition of 5
40 x 60 in / 102 x 152 cm edition of 5
48 x 72 in / 122 x 183 cm edition of 1
COLOSSEO
Rome, Italy, 2017
24 x 48 in / 61 x 122 cm edition of 5
40 x 80 in / 102 x 204 cm edition of 5
48 x 96 in / 122 x 244 cm edition of 1
SCENARIO
Rome, Italy, 2017
24 x 48 in / 61 x 122 cm edition of 5
40 x 80 in / 102 x 204 cm edition of 5
48 x 96 in / 122 x 244 cm edition of 1
SPANISH STEPS
Rome, Italy, 2019
24 x 36 in / 61 x 91 cm edition of 5
40 x 60 in / 102 x 152 cm edition of 5
48 x 72 in / 122 x 183 cm edition of 1
DOLCE VITA
Rome, Italy, 2019
24 x 48 in / 61 x 122 cm edition of 5
40 x 80 in / 102 x 204 cm edition of 5
48 x 96 in / 122 x 244 cm edition of 1
ALTARE DELLA PATRIA
Rome, Italy, 2019
24 x 36 in / 61 x 91 cm edition of 5
40 x 60 in / 102 x 152 cm edition of 5
48 x 72 in / 122 x 183 cm edition of 1
ETERNAL CITY
Rome, Italy, 2017
24 x 48 in / 61 x 122 cm edition of 5
40 x 80 in / 102 x 204 cm edition of 5
48 x 96 in / 122 x 244 cm edition of 1
CREPUSCULO
Rome, Italy, 2017
24 x 48 in / 61 x 122 cm edition of 5
40 x 80 in / 102 x 204 cm edition of 5
48 x 96 in / 122 x 244 cm edition of 1
AURORA
Rome, Italy, 2017
24 x 36 in / 61 x 91 cm edition of 5
40 x 60 in / 102 x 152 cm edition of 5
48 x 72 in / 122 x 183 cm edition of 1