Ponte Sant'Angelo in Rome 

Jan Brueghel the Elder rendered "Ponte Sant'Angelo in Rome" using pen and brown ink, with a blue wash, during a time when Rome was both a pilgrimage site and a center for artistic innovation. Consider the historical weight of Rome, layered with religious significance and the power dynamics of the Catholic Church. Brueghel, a Flemish artist, captures the architectural majesty of the Ponte Sant'Angelo, a bridge connecting the city to the Vatican. Look closely at the contrast between the detailed rendering of the bridge, with the working buildings on the right. These were the trades that kept the city alive. How do the figures on the riverbank and boats suggest the everyday lives of those who depended on the river for their livelihoods? By depicting these individuals, Brueghel acknowledges their presence in a city often represented through its grand monuments. In Brueghel's Rome, we are reminded that the city's grandeur existed alongside the daily realities of its inhabitants.