Portret van Marcus Tullius Cicero 1768 - 1817

Johann Heinrich Lips made this print of Marcus Tullius Cicero, the Roman statesman and orator, sometime around the turn of the 19th century. The print revives classical imagery as part of a broader cultural movement that we now call Neoclassicism. But the classical revival wasn't just about aesthetics, it also reflected the political ideals of the Enlightenment. Artists looked to republican Rome for models of civic virtue, of a society governed by laws and reason rather than by arbitrary power. The image of Cicero—the defender of the Roman republic—resonated deeply with those seeking to overthrow the old order. To fully understand this print, one must consider the institutions that shaped its production and reception. Lips, as a printmaker, was catering to a growing market for historical images among educated elites. Museums and academies played a role in shaping taste and promoting classical ideals. By studying these institutions, we can gain a richer understanding of the print's place in its own time.