Intocht van Karel VIII in Napels, 1495 1722 - 1784

Simon Fokke made this etching, Intocht van Karel VIII in Napels, in the eighteenth century after an unknown artist's design of the fifteenth century. It depicts Charles VIII's entry into Naples in 1495. This image offers insights into the cultural imagination of both the 15th and 18th centuries. The scene illustrates not just a historical event, but also how later generations perceived the past through the lens of their own societal values and artistic conventions. The level of detail in the depiction of the military procession and architectural elements can tell us about the importance of military power and classical allusions in the collective memory of European societies. Historians often consult period documents, chronicles, and other visual representations to enrich our understanding of how historical events have been interpreted and used for political and cultural purposes over time. In that sense, the meaning of art lies not only in the original intent, but also in its subsequent receptions.