Bracciano (Views of Rome and Its Environs, plate 2) 1841

Edward Lear made this watercolor drawing entitled "Bracciano" as part of "Views of Rome and Its Environs". He was working in Italy at a time when it was becoming a popular tourist destination and the site of revivals of ancient and Renaissance art and culture. Lear creates meaning through visual codes that romanticize the Italian countryside. Bracciano, north of Rome, is a place of natural beauty. In Lear's image, there is a peacefulness in the daily routines of the locals gathering at the town's water source. The image invites us to share the calm he felt as a tourist in the area. But this is a strategic choice. There is another history of Italy that is not so pretty. One of political turmoil and constant struggle. Historians can use travel logs, letters and other historical documents to understand the role of art in creating narratives about foreign places. Art always reflects the particular moment in which it was made.