Sacrifice 18th century

This pen and brown ink drawing on paper, titled "Sacrifice," presents a frieze-like composition of classical figures engaged in ritualistic scenes. Its anonymous authorship prompts us to consider the social and cultural contexts that might have shaped its creation. The image draws upon the visual codes of classical antiquity, evoking a sense of timelessness and cultural authority. If this work was made in Europe it would likely be a period where the institutions of art, such as academies and museums, were actively promoting the values of classical art as a means of establishing cultural legitimacy and reinforcing social hierarchies. The scene of sacrifice may have been understood as a representation of civic virtue, or other virtues. As historians, we look to period sources, such as archaeological findings and philosophical texts, to understand the meaning of these forms of art. The absence of a known author emphasizes how art’s value is contingent on the social and institutional contexts in which it is made and received.