On the Road to Tivoli 1808

Curator: This delicate watercolor, "On the Road to Tivoli," was created by Bartolomeo Pinelli in 1808. Editor: It’s immediately striking how muted the palette is – predominantly soft blues, grays, and gentle browns. It evokes a sense of serene, almost wistful, observation. Curator: Indeed. Pinelli was documenting everyday Roman life, targeting mostly the tourists and travelers eager to capture "snapshots" of their journey. His work reveals the rise of popular imagery, as he sold affordable prints portraying local customs and landscapes. Editor: And what are we looking at here? This isn’t just reportage. Observe the symbols: the woman riding the donkey bearing goods signifies labor, and by extension prosperity. Note how the donkey is slightly gray but otherwise seems in perfect health! And what of the second woman, with her child? The image pulses with maternal care – see how the child is almost enveloped, completely embraced within his mother’s protective shadow. The image certainly captures idealized virtues of the time, almost sentimentally. Curator: True, but consider the sociopolitical backdrop. This was Napoleonic Rome, a time of occupation and upheaval. Pinelli's idyllic scenes, presented and distributed in multiple, almost tourist-friendly prints, conveniently ignore the political issues that shaped the life and identity of local citizens, creating in effect escapist fantasies of the past. They appealed to the Grand Tourists who were eager to take home visual souvenirs of Italy. The figures in this "plein-air" piece present a controlled image that sidesteps issues like French dominance, taxation, or even local administration! Editor: Yes, the image is very carefully curated, if you will. But I am touched by Pinelli's skillful juxtaposition of travel and rootedness: those mountain peaks visible in the background lend the entire composition a palpable air of permanence, contrasting pleasantly with the family group that is constantly en route to some next location! Curator: An intriguing way to consider this. Pinelli has an interesting, almost modern, understanding of his artistic role. Editor: So, even while serving as a document of Romantic escapism, he’s giving us something to truly remember.