De Pyramide van Cestius in Rome 1761 - 1817

Daniël Dupré made this drawing of the Pyramid of Cestius in Rome with pen in brown and grey, brush in grey, and grey wash. Dupré was a Dutch artist who was part of a generation of northern European artists drawn to Italy and its classical past. Dupré’s image, though, is not just a celebration of antiquity. It’s also an image made during a period in which the institutions of art were changing, and the market for art expanding. Tourists and collectors visited the sites of classical antiquity, creating demand for views like this one. But these images don’t just document Roman monuments; they also interpret them. In this case, we see the Pyramid of Cestius integrated into a peaceful pastoral landscape with grazing cattle and a shepherd. For art historians, understanding this image requires us to consider the social conditions that shaped its production and reception. Researching the market for views of Roman monuments, the travel patterns of artists and collectors, and the changing aesthetic tastes of the time can all shed light on its meaning.