Pantheon te Rome Possibly 1675 - 1717

This print of the Pantheon in Rome was made by Pieter Schenk around the turn of the 18th century. It offers a bird’s eye view of the piazza, or public square, in front of this ancient Roman monument, which by this time had long been transformed into a Christian church. The print is not just a depiction of a famous building; it's a window into the social and cultural life of Rome during the early modern period. You can see people milling about, going about their daily business, and the artist pays close attention to the architecture surrounding the piazza, giving us a sense of the urban environment. The vantage point and detail incorporated in the image, as well as the addition of architectural plans and dedicatory text, indicate that this print was likely made for elite travelers and collectors, who were interested in owning images of famous sites. To understand the social context, historical maps, guidebooks, and travelers’ accounts can provide a deeper understanding of the Pantheon's place in the urban fabric of Rome, and the role of prints in shaping the experience of tourism.