The Pont du Rhône in Lyon seen from the West c. 1646 - 1650

Jan Asselijn created this drawing of the Pont du Rhône in Lyon with pen in grey-brown ink and grey wash, sometime before his death in 1652. The Rhône river was an important trade route, and bridges like this one were vital infrastructure. Asselijn's image of the bridge shows the influence of the Italianate style of landscape painting, with its interest in classical ruins, even though this is a French subject. We see the artist's interest in the play of light on the ruined stonework of the bridge, which gives the image a picturesque quality. By the 17th century, prints and drawings of landmarks were popular among collectors as souvenirs of travel. These images played an important public role in shaping the ways people saw and understood their world. Art historians consult a wide range of resources, including maps, prints, and other images, to better understand the context and meaning of works of art.