Ruïnes op de Aventijn 1680

This print of ruins on the Aventine Hill in Rome was produced by an anonymous artist, and its cultural value resides less in its aesthetic qualities than in what it tells us about the social and institutional life of its time. Focusing on the hill which overlooks the Tiber River, the print shows us not only the ruins themselves, but also the ways in which the city has grown around them. You’ll notice a combination of classical ruins and Renaissance buildings. The image thus illustrates an ongoing dialogue between Rome’s classical past and its present identity. These kinds of prints, popular at the time, were often commissioned by wealthy patrons as souvenirs of the Grand Tour, or were sold as part of bound collections. They catered to a growing interest in antiquarianism and contributed to the formation of a shared cultural heritage. To understand this image better, a historian would consider the patronage system of the time, as well as the developing tourism industry and the history of archaeology. This print exemplifies the ways in which images not only represent, but also participate in the social and cultural life of their time.