Temple of Minerva Medica in Rome c. 18th century

Editor: This is Jean-Baptiste Lallemand's "Temple of Minerva Medica in Rome." The watercolor is quite detailed, depicting the ruin. What do you see in this piece beyond the aesthetic appeal? Curator: The appeal lies in the depiction of labor and the means of production. Look at the raw materials – stone, water, pigment – and the labor required to transform them into both the temple and the artwork. How does the ruin reflect the social context of its creation and consumption? Editor: That's a great point. It makes me think about the consumption of antiquity by the 18th century. Thanks for that perspective.