Houses on the North Side of the Forum with the Basilica of Maxentius Beyond 1746 - 1749

Joseph Marie Vien sketched "Houses on the North Side of the Forum with the Basilica of Maxentius Beyond" in pencil on paper, capturing a scene steeped in history. Born in 1716, Vien lived through a period of immense social and political change. As we look at this sketch, think about how artists like Vien grappled with the weight of classical antiquity while also living in an emerging modern world. The Forum, once the heart of ancient Rome, is shown here coexisting with everyday life. Small figures are going about their daily routines amongst the ruins. The Basilica of Maxentius looms in the background, a reminder of past imperial power. Vien's choice to focus on the juxtaposition of the ancient and the contemporary invites us to consider how societies grapple with their legacies, and how the past continues to shape our present. It also prompts us to think about whose stories are told through these ruins, and whose are erased or obscured by time.