Havengezicht in Napels 1766

This print of the harbour of Naples was made by Jacques Philippe Le Bas in France in the 18th Century. It shows us the docks of this major port city with ships at anchor and people milling about. Prints like this were important means of circulating images of cities. They could be purchased and collected, bound into books, or displayed on walls. The print medium itself was tied to the rise of a commercial art market where artists and engravers were supported by the buying public as much as by traditional patrons. The inscription tells us this print was dedicated to a nobleman and perhaps was supported by him. This bustling harbour scene speaks to a growing interest in urban life, social relations, and economic exchange. As an art historian, I might look at things like port records, travel journals, and maps to understand this image better. Looking at an artwork like this in its historical context reveals the changing social and institutional conditions of art production in the 18th century.