The Wooden Bridge at Sulmona near Tivoli 

Jan Both created this print, The Wooden Bridge at Sulmona near Tivoli, around 1650. It presents an idealized Italian landscape populated by figures crossing a rustic bridge. Both was a Dutch artist who spent time in Italy, absorbing its artistic traditions and picturesque scenery. The print reflects the Northern European fascination with Italy as a site of classical history and natural beauty. It shows how artists used prints to disseminate this vision of Italy to a wider audience, shaping perceptions of the country. The wooden bridge can be read as a metaphor for the connection between the Netherlands and Italy, or the natural and classical worlds. Studying Both's work, alongside travel accounts, guidebooks, and other prints of the time, allows us to understand how cultural exchange and artistic representations shaped the idea of Italy in the 17th century.