In the Roman Campagna 1825 - 1894

George Inness created this painting of the Roman Campagna with oil on canvas. His images of the Italian countryside presented an idealized vision of peasant life, reflecting the cultural values of his American audience. Inness’s painting creates meaning through its nostalgic vision of rural life in Italy. Made at a time of rapid industrialization in the United States, such landscape paintings offered an escape from the realities of urban life. The scene depicts shepherds and their flocks in a peaceful harmony. These cultural references would have resonated with the artist’s patrons, many of whom were wealthy industrialists who supported institutions like the National Academy of Design, where Inness exhibited his works. Understanding this painting requires us to consider the artist’s biography, exhibition history, and the social context in which it was made. Such research reveals the public role of art as a reflection of cultural values and societal aspirations. By examining these resources, we recognize that the meaning of art is always contingent on the social and institutional context.