View of the Cascades at Tivoli

Twenty miles north-east of Rome, the town of Tivoli is famous for its cascades and watercourses. The view shown here is almost certainly taken from the Ponte San Rocco looking across the gushing waters towards Tivoli in the distance. Denis is known to have visited Tivoli in 1789 and in 1793, and probably painted 'A Torrent at Tivoli' during the same period.

The artist has left the sky open and included two washerwomen rinsing their laundry in the river. He appears to have sketched out the composition before filling in the colour.