The entrance gate is a side entrance of the church of Santa Maria in Aracoeli situated on the top of the Campidoglio behind Palazzo Nuovo and Piazza del Campidoglio.

Emil Hannover, A Catalogue Raisonné of the Works of C. W. Eckersberg no. 195 (dated 1813–1816, the years Eckersberg stayed in Rome, with the addition that (in Danish) “the figures are painted in 1851”.

Eckersberg writes about the painting in his diary (in Danish):

13 October 1851: “Editor Meier paid me a visit, he bought a small painting ”The entrance to the church Araceli in Rome“, on which I recently had painted a group, received 60 Rbd.”

31 December 1851: “Because of my impaired sight, I only painted very little, just a half finished picture ”a corvette ready for launching“ and figures on an unfinished painting from Rome ”a side entrance to the church Araceli“, editor Meier received this painting.”

Literature: Ph. Weilbach, “Maleren Eckersbergs levned og værker”, 1872, mentioned p. 225.

Provenance: Sold by the artist himself to editor Edvard Meyer in 1851. Edvard Meyer's auction October 1852 no. 26 with the following description (in Danish): “A Roman convent; The monks are fetched for a sick person. (The convent painted in Rome 1814. The figures painted 1851...)” Bought here by Consul General Salomonsen. Mrs Salomonsen (1872). Consul General V. Glückstadt, his auction, Winkel & Rasmussen 9, 1923 no. 13, reproduced p. 7. Bought here by the present owner's family, hence it has not been on the market since 1923.