The temple of Antoninus and Faustina was built by the Emperor Antoninus Pius shortly after the death of his wife, Faustina, in 141A.D. He dedicated the temple to Faustina as he wanted to deify her and raise her to the rank of goddess. When Antoninus himself died in 161 A.D the Roman Senate decided to dedicate this Temple to both husband and wife. The temple stands in the Roman Forum. In the seventh or eighth century the church known as San Lorenzo in Miranda was built into the interior of the temple, for which it owes its splendid conservation. The exterior to the original temple remains largely intact today, although the ground surrounding the temple has been excavated and considerably lowered.

Scholars agree that Canaletto's hand is evident in this picture, particularly the cart on the right hand side. The painting also shows the influence, but not necessarily the hand, of Canaletto's nephew and pupil Bernardo Bellotto who participated in a great number of works attributed to Canaletto and his school.

The painting has a pendant, also in the Royal Collection, 'Rome: Ruins of the Forum Looking Towards the Capitol' (RCIN 409047). Both pictures are related to drawings in the British Museum by or more probably after Canaletto.