Ruins on the Palatine with a Panoramic Landscape 1550

Hieronymus Cock made this print of ruins on the Palatine Hill sometime in the mid-16th century. The image captures the actual state of the Palatine at the time, but it also presents us with ideas about the classical past, the passage of time, and the lessons of history. The print creates meaning through contrasts: between the ruined architecture and the panoramic landscape, between the shadows in the foreground and the bright sunrise over the city in the distance. Cock was from Antwerp, and prints like this one were popular among northern European artists and collectors who were interested in classical antiquity and Italian art. We might also consider how prints like this one functioned within the emerging art market. The image may invite us to reflect on the relationship between the rise and fall of civilizations and the role of the artist in preserving the memory of the past. Art historians consult guidebooks, travel accounts, and archeological reports, all of which helps us to understand the cultural values that shaped the creation and reception of this image.