Florence_ Gate of Paradise of the Baptistery c. 1860 - 1870

Giovanni Brampton Philpot made this watercolor painting, titled Florence: Gate of Paradise of the Baptistery, in the 19th century. This landscape painting, with its soft colors and hazy atmosphere, exemplifies the Romantic movement's fascination with nature and the picturesque. Philpot painted it at a time when travel was becoming more accessible to the middle classes, and Italy became a popular destination for artists and tourists alike. We might think about the emerging tourism industry, and its effect on the way artists responded to certain locations. The title of the artwork, "Florence: Gate of Paradise of the Baptistery," suggests a connection to the city's rich artistic heritage. But Philpot doesn't focus on the celebrated doors themselves. Instead, he steps back to take in a distant view. To understand the painting more fully, we might turn to travel guides and other sources that can provide information about the social and cultural context in which it was made. The meaning of art is always contingent on the circumstances of its making.