A Reconstruction of the Thermae of Diocletian (above) and a View of the Ruins (below) 1690 - 1704

This drawing, made by Jan Goeree around 1700, combines pen, brown ink, and gray wash on paper to depict the Thermae of Diocletian. Note the contrast between the upper portion, a reconstruction, and the lower, a view of the ruins. The drawing is a form of intellectual labor. Goeree likely never saw the Baths in their prime. He has drawn them based on other drawings, textual descriptions, and his own imagination. The skill lies not just in artistic handiwork, but in the capacity to visualize and represent complex architectural forms. This was a highly valued ability in an era of expanding empires, which demanded the construction of new kinds of infrastructure. The ruins below speak to the transience of even the most ambitious building projects. Ultimately, understanding this drawing requires us to consider not just its aesthetic qualities, but also the social and intellectual context in which it was produced. It reflects the era's fascination with the classical past and the role of the artist as a mediator between history and the present.