In the centre left are the remains of the Temple of Castor and Pollux, with the Fountain of Giuturna to the right. In the middle distance the Column of Phocas and Temple of Saturn are visible with the buildings of the Capitol behind. In contrast to the ancient architecture, at the extreme left foreground of the painting, the artist depicts part of the Baroque façade of the (now destroyed) church of Sta Maria Liberatrice.

This picture and 'The Temple of Antoninus and Faustina' (RCIN 409046) can both be dated to the 1740s. They were probably designed as pendants and are related to drawings by or after Canaletto in the British Museum. It is not known whether Canaletto travelled to Rome in the 1740s, but it is thought that the artist's hand can be discerned in parts of this painting as well as that of his nephew, Bernardo Bellotto.