The Porta Maggiore in Rome 1789

Daniël Dupré made this drawing of the Porta Maggiore in Rome using pen and brush in brown ink and gray wash. Dupré belonged to a generation of Northern European artists drawn to Italy, where the classical past and the picturesque present coexisted. This artwork reflects a pivotal moment in the late 18th century, when artists and intellectuals grappled with themes of identity, history, and cultural heritage. It invites us to consider the historical weight carried by this ancient gateway, not just as a physical structure, but as a symbol of power, trade, and cultural exchange across millennia. Notice how Dupré positions the everyday lives of the rural working class against the backdrop of classical antiquity. The ox-drawn cart and pedestrians hint at the economic activities that sustained Rome, revealing a glimpse into the lives of those who existed in the shadows of grand historical narratives. Dupré’s work prompts us to reflect on how identity and daily life are shaped by the physical and historical spaces we inhabit.