Scene of Antique Sacrifice 1762 - 1844

Giuseppe Bernardino Bison made this drawing, Scene of Antique Sacrifice, with pen and brown ink and wash over graphite in the late 18th or early 19th century. Bison, who was from Venice, took inspiration from the classical world, a common pursuit for artists of his time. But this drawing is more than just an exercise in Neoclassical style. It also reflects the social and cultural values of its time. In 18th and 19th century Europe, the study of classical antiquity was seen as a way to understand and emulate the achievements of past civilizations. This interest was particularly strong among the upper classes, who saw themselves as the inheritors of classical traditions of political and artistic excellence. Bison's drawing, with its idealized figures and carefully rendered details, speaks to this interest in the classical world. The scene of sacrifice is particularly relevant, as it evokes the religious practices of ancient Greece and Rome, societies that were admired for their political systems, philosophy, and art. By depicting this scene, Bison invites viewers to reflect on the values and ideals of the past, and to consider how they might be applied to the present. We can only come to this understanding by looking at the social and institutional contexts from which Bison was working.