Our painting depicts a suggestive view of the temples of Paestum in which the three archaic temples are the undisputed protagonists of the canvas, even if what captures our attention are the details of everyday life that invite us to explore the landscape: in the foreground the scene is animated by some local wayfarers while a group of tourists is preparing to visit the first temple. The date ‘1845’ is a precious document of the state in which the majestic ruins in the Sele valley were found.

Little is known about Alexandre Lieto, an artist active in the mid-nineteenth century; Benezit cites him as being born in Italy to French parents. He was a pupil of the great Camille Corot, and painted views of the French countryside and Paris, as well as views of the Neapolitan area.
Two of his paintings are preserved in the museum of Nice.