Area near Subiaco 

This is Johann Georg von Dillis's "Area near Subiaco," a sepia drawing currently housed in the Städel Museum. Von Dillis, born in 1759, lived through a transformative period in European history, witnessing the rise and fall of empires and the shifting social landscapes of the Enlightenment and the Napoleonic era. In this piece, he turns his attention to the Italian landscape, a common subject for artists of his time seeking inspiration from classical ideals and the sublime power of nature. But what does it mean to idealize a landscape? How does the picturesque aesthetic, so popular at the time, reflect the social hierarchies and power dynamics of the era? Notice the lone figure in the foreground. Are they a romantic wanderer, a peasant, or perhaps a symbol of humanity's relationship with the natural world? As you gaze at the sweeping vista before you, consider how landscapes can embody both personal reflection and broader cultural narratives.