View of Ariccia, Italy 1753 - 1763

Jonathan Skelton's "View of Ariccia, Italy" is an undated ink on paper landscape, now residing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Skelton, born in the 18th century, invites us into a world shaped by the Enlightenment's fascination with reason and order, yet tempered by the burgeoning Romantic sensibility that valued emotion and the sublime. Imagine, for a moment, the experience of the Grand Tourists, the privileged elite who traversed Europe in search of culture and self-discovery. Skelton's work catered to their desires, offering picturesque scenes like this one as souvenirs of their travels. This landscape, with its delicate balance between nature and architecture, reflects the social stratification of the time. The elite tourists sought out particular kinds of scenes that reinforced their ideas of beauty and control over the landscape. Consider how Skelton frames the Italian countryside, rendering it as both an escape and a possession. The emotional heart of this piece lies in its quiet invitation to reflect on our place within a world shaped by both human ambition and the indifference of nature.