Roman Architecture 1907

John Singer Sargent produced this oil on canvas study of Roman Architecture sometime around 1906. Sargent was an American expatriate artist, a product of the grand tour who spent much of his career in Europe. His paintings of architecture reflect more than aesthetic considerations. They also reflect the rise of cultural tourism and its relationship to the rise of cosmopolitanism. The painting depicts a classical facade dominated by massive columns, suggesting an interest in the values and aesthetic of the antique world. It’s interesting to consider how institutions and art can reinforce these values. This painting might be viewed as part of a larger movement in the arts to connect with and canonize the classical past. Was Sargent's choice of subject intended to legitimize a certain social or political order? To explore this question further, we might consult period guidebooks and travelogues, in order to understand the social meanings attached to classical sites.