River with Arched Bridge and Boat n.d.

Herman van Swanevelt made this drawing of a river with an arched bridge and boat using pen and brown ink with gray wash. The figures invite us to imagine a social world of travel, leisure, and commerce, all enabled by this impressive piece of engineering. Swanevelt was Dutch, but he spent much of his career in Rome. The arched bridge depicted here may well be one of the many ancient Roman bridges that still stand today. Landscape art, such as this, became very popular among wealthy landowners in the 17th century who sought to display their cultured taste and appreciation of classical antiquity. As historians, we can look to sources such as letters, travel journals, and architectural records to learn more about the specific bridge and the experiences of people who crossed it. This drawing reflects the artist's interests, the tastes of his patrons, and the broader social and cultural context of 17th-century Europe.