The Architect of Roman Visions In the golden light of the late seventeenth century, a transformative figure emerged from the Dutch Republic to redefine how the world perceived the grandeur of Italy. Gaspare vanvitelli, born Jasper Adriaensz van Wittel in the quiet town of Amers Foort, was far more than a mere chronicler of landscapes; he was an architect of perception. His journey began amidst the meticulous traditions of Dutch painting, where his early training under Thomas Jansz van Veenendaal and the celebrated Matthias Withoos instilled in him a profound reverence for detail and precisio…