Piramide van Cestius te Rome 1547

This is an engraving of the Pyramid of Cestius in Rome, made by an anonymous artist. The image depicts a very specific monument. But its meaning is more general. Consider the fashion for classical antiquity in the early modern period. From the Renaissance onwards, there was an obsession with the remains of Roman civilization. This was expressed through painting, sculpture, and architecture in the imitation of classical forms. But also in the medium of printmaking, where artists circulated images of Roman monuments to a wide audience. This image suggests that Northern European artists and patrons were keen to understand Roman civilization firsthand. It's fascinating to see how artists of the time documented and interpreted these historical sites. We, as art historians, use similar methods to piece together an understanding of the art and culture of the past, using any textual and visual resources we can find. The meaning of art always depends on its context.