The grotto of Pausillipo was a tunnel built during the 1st century BC as a passageway between Naples and Pozzuoli. Still in use in the 18th century, it was a major attraction for travellers and artists. Desprez brought out the best in its eerie ambience. The flickering torchlights reveal its high vaulted ceiling, inhabited by nocturnal birds, while the figures are dwarfed by the colossal architecture.