Ruïnes en fantasielandschap 1550 - 1570

This landscape drawing was made by an anonymous artist, using pen and brown ink. It presents an imaginary landscape populated with classical ruins. The artistic culture of Europe, especially from the Renaissance onwards, was heavily influenced by the rediscovery of classical antiquity. Roman architecture, such as temples and arches, were taken as models of aesthetic excellence. Ruins became important symbols of the cyclical nature of history. Artists working for wealthy patrons aimed to associate them with the grandeur of the past. The Rijksmuseum provides a rich source for further study of this work. Its detailed records can help us establish the work's provenance, and its connections with broader social and institutional trends. Art history reminds us that the meaning of art is always shaped by its social and cultural context.