Group of trees near Olevano 1830

August Lucas made this pencil drawing, Group of Trees near Olevano, sometime in the first half of the 19th century. Lucas was a member of a generation of German artists who traveled to Italy, drawn to the landscapes of antiquity. This study is typical of the period; it reveals an almost scientific interest in nature and the structure of trees. We know that landscape became a highly valued genre during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, which helped serve the cultural and political needs of the rising middle classes. Landscape was prominently featured at the academies of art, such as the Dusseldorf Academy, where Lucas studied. Looking at the cultural context around landscape art can teach us so much about social values of the time. Art history is not just about who made something, but also why.