Twee ornamentele wandpanelen 1817

Pietro Ruga made this image, "Two ornamental wall panels," using printmaking. The panels' decorative designs evoke a world of aristocratic taste and elite patronage. We see classically-inspired motifs such as wreaths, urns, and geometric patterns that reflect a vogue for Neoclassicism. These images probably come from Italy. The idealized scenes depicted in each panel also reference ancient Greek and Roman art, which had long been seen as cultural ideals throughout Europe. The print participates in the broader social and cultural context of European art academies, such as drawing and design. The focus on linear precision reflects academic preferences. Prints like these were critical to distributing artistic knowledge and establishing standardized styles that traversed national boundaries. Examining related prints and design books can reveal more about the circulation of aesthetic ideas and the creation of artistic canons during this period.