"Romersk" prospekt 1730 - 1793

Jens Petersen Lund created this watercolor and pen drawing of a Roman prospect in the late 18th century. Lund was one of many northern European artists who traveled to Italy to sketch the classical ruins and picturesque landscapes. But this image of Rome is as much about the artistic institutions of Lund's time as it is about the city itself. The sketch evokes the Grand Tour, a rite of passage for wealthy Europeans who sought cultural enrichment. The popularity of such prospects also fueled the market for landscape paintings and prints back home. Lund's drawing speaks to the power of art to shape our perceptions of place and history. By studying travel accounts, exhibition records, and the biographies of artists like Lund, we can better understand the social conditions that gave rise to such iconic images of Rome and their continuing influence today.