Modern Rome 1757

Giovanni Paolo Panini made this painting, *Modern Rome*, using oil on canvas. The skilled labor required to produce canvases, grind pigments, and apply paint with precision should not be overlooked. Panini's choice of medium is telling; the fine art of painting, with its established traditions and academies, had a higher cultural status than craft practices such as tapestry or ceramics. The materiality of oil paint lends itself to creating the illusion of depth and detail, essential for capturing the grandeur of Roman architecture. This work immortalizes Rome and its architectural achievements. The artist's labor, evident in the meticulous brushwork, is a testament to the value placed on artistic skill and craftsmanship in the 18th century. By emphasizing the materials, making, and historical context of *Modern Rome*, we can appreciate the work's meaning and its place in the hierarchy of art and labor of the time.