Onder de bogen van het Colosseum 1778 - 1838

Anthonie van den Bos created this print, "Under the Arches of the Colosseum", using etching and grey wash. It depicts a shadowy view from within the ancient amphitheater. Made at a time when the Grand Tour was popular, it reflects a broader European fascination with classical antiquity. Yet, rather than focusing on the Colosseum's grandeur, van den Bos highlights its decay, showing it as a space inhabited by beggars and stray dogs. This romanticized view of ruins reflects a shift in taste, away from Neoclassical ideals and towards a more sentimental appreciation of the past. The Rijksmuseum, like many national museums, plays a role in shaping our understanding of history through art. To fully grasp van den Bos's vision, we can examine travelogues and social histories of 18th-century Rome, exploring how artists and tourists perceived the city's layered past.