Gezicht op de Aventijn in Rome, met de kerk van S. Saba, Abbate 1761 - 1817

Daniël Dupré made this drawing of the Aventine Hill in Rome using pen in gray ink and brush in gray and brown ink. It gives us an insight into the cultural fascination with classical architecture in the 18th century. The church of S. Saba, Abbate, offers a glimpse into Rome's religious and architectural landscape. The Aventine Hill, one of Rome’s seven hills, has ancient origins, but the eighteenth-century viewer sought in it the historical layers and the picturesque qualities that attracted artists and intellectuals alike. In representing this location, Dupré participates in a visual culture that romanticized ancient history. He invites viewers to contemplate the passage of time and the endurance of cultural heritage. To truly understand Dupré's drawing, we need to explore the artistic conventions of his time, delving into travelogues, architectural treatises, and the social networks of artists and patrons. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.