Genius of Mysteries 

Giovanni Battista Piranesi made this etching, Genius of Mysteries, in 18th century Italy. The image shows winged sphinxes pulling a chariot driven by a winged putto. The image revives the classical past in a way that was fashionable at the time. Interest in classical antiquity was closely tied to the rise of museums. The discoveries at Herculaneum and Pompeii were transforming ideas about classical art and its role in culture. The museum was becoming an important cultural institution and inspiring artists who saw themselves in the tradition of the classical masters. The revival of antiquity was a self-consciously progressive movement in the arts, but also a commercial venture. Prints like this were made for collectors and tourists who wanted to bring the romance of classical antiquity into their homes. To understand more, look at publications such as Piranesi's engravings of Roman monuments and consider the patronage of wealthy Europeans on their Grand Tours. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.