In 1756, having won the Prix de Rome, Fragonard departed for four years at the French academy in that city. Of his route from Paris we know nothing, but on the return journey he traveled by way of Florence to Venice, west to Marseilles, and north through Lyons. He visited the principal cities of Italy again in 1774, as well as Vienna and Frankfurt. As this small picture demonstrates, he was very much influenced by the monuments, both ancient and modern, and the parks and gardens, of the Italian capital. The subject may be imaginary.