Italian Mountainous Landscape with Lake Nemi 1790

John Robert Cozens made this watercolor drawing entitled *Italian Mountainous Landscape with Lake Nemi*. Cozens was working in the late 18th century, a time when the Grand Tour was a common activity for wealthy Europeans. They would travel to experience the art and culture of the continent. Italy, with its classical ruins and picturesque landscapes, was a favorite destination. Cozens himself journeyed there, and his watercolors reflect this fascination with the Italian countryside, an escape for the aristocratic class. But, this image is more than just a pretty picture. It also speaks to the relationship between humans and the natural world. The lone shepherd with his flock is a romantic vision of rural life, but it also highlights the ways in which people have shaped and altered the landscape, and how class divisions dictate who can experience leisure and who is forced to hard labor. Cozens invites us to consider the interplay between nature, culture, and society, to examine the past and consider its relevance to our own time.