Koeien voor de Porta Sant'Angelo te Tivoli 1634 - 1694

Willem Romeyn created this drawing, "Koeien voor de Porta Sant'Angelo te Tivoli," using pen in gray-brown on paper. Romeyn belonged to the second generation of Dutch Italianate landscape artists. This work reflects the influence of Rome's landscape on northern European artists. It offers a glimpse into the pastoral lives that occupied the Italian countryside. The Porta Sant'Angelo in Tivoli acts as a striking backdrop to a common scene of grazing cattle and herders, which allows for a dialogue about identity, class, and the relationship between humans and nature. It’s interesting to consider the subtle narrative it crafts. It invites us to contemplate the lives of the agricultural workers who shaped the landscape and contributed to the region's economy. Through his composition, Romeyn not only captures a moment in time but also prompts us to consider the narratives of labor, identity, and belonging.