A View of Rome from the Palatine 1813 - 1817

Carl Ludwig Frommel made this watercolor of Rome from the Palatine Hill in the early 19th century. It reflects a Romantic sensibility that was captivated by the sublime, particularly the grandeur of ancient ruins. This image creates meaning through its visual codes. The Palatine Hill, one of the seven hills of Rome, was the home of emperors and the center of power in antiquity. By the 1800s, the ruins of the Palatine symbolized the decline of empires. The figures here remind us of the contemporary interest in this bygone era, which served as an allegory for the transience of human power. The dome of St. Peter’s Basilica looms in the distance, representing the enduring power of the Catholic Church. The politics of imagery are central here. We can see the physical remnants of ancient Roman social structures in sharp contrast with Frommel's own time. These interests are visible through drawings, prints, and travelogues. To better understand the meaning of such works, historians rely on a range of resources such as travel accounts, guidebooks, and architectural studies. Art's meaning is contingent on these social and institutional contexts.