Pantheon te Rome 1584 - 1585

This anonymous drawing depicts the Pantheon in Rome. The building, originally a Roman temple, was rebuilt in its current form in the second century AD. As the inscription tells us, it had already been repurposed as a Christian church, dedicated to St. Mary. The drawing is not just a record of an existing building. It presents classical antiquity as a source of authority for early modern Europeans. The drawing meticulously renders the Pantheon's classical features, such as its columns and dome, inviting viewers to appreciate the achievements of Roman architecture. We can see, in this image, the origins of a classical ideal that dominated European art and architecture for centuries. Drawings like this served an important function in the early modern period by documenting and celebrating historical monuments. To understand this drawing fully, we can consult historical architectural records, travel journals, and early guidebooks to the city of Rome. These sources reveal how cultural institutions have shaped our perception of historical sites.