Rejsedagbog. Novi Ligure 1846

This page of “Rejsedagbog. Novi Ligure” was written by Johan Thomas Lundbye in the 1840s. The sketchbook, now in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst, Denmark, contains a written account of Lundbye’s travels in Italy. This work invites us to consider the role of travel and documentation in the social and cultural life of 19th-century Europe. Lundbye’s notes, penned during his Italian sojourn, offer a glimpse into the artistic and intellectual pursuits of the time. Italy, with its rich artistic heritage and classical ruins, served as a pilgrimage site for artists and scholars seeking inspiration and enlightenment. It was a common feature of an artist's training to travel to Italy, especially among those attached to an academy. As art historians, we rely on sources like these to better understand an artist's life. Lundbye's diary reminds us that artworks are made by people living in a specific time, place, and culture.