Zicht in de stallen van Villa Maecenas in Tivoli 1796

This print of the stables of the Villa Maecenas in Tivoli was made by Friedrich Wilhelm Gmelin. Classical ruins were a popular subject for artists in the 18th century and a Grand Tour through Italy was considered essential for any artist wishing to establish a reputation. As they travelled, artists like Gmelin recorded the ancient monuments and landscapes they encountered. This print allows those who couldn’t afford to travel, to experience the allure of the past, and classical antiquity was often seen as the foundation of European culture and civilization. Today, historians look to travel journals, letters, and other archival materials, to understand how images like this, shaped European ideas about history and national identity. Appreciating art means understanding its contingent relationship with cultural values, social structures, and the institutions through which it circulates.