A Reconstruction of the Thermae of Nero (above) and a View of the Ruins (below) 1690 - 1704

Jan Goeree created "A Reconstruction of the Thermae of Nero (above) and a View of the Ruins (below)" with pen and brown ink, and brush and gray wash. Goeree made this drawing during a period in Europe when there was a renewed interest in classical antiquity. The print reflects not only an architectural rendering but also a commentary on power, time, and legacy. The top half depicts a pristine, idealized reconstruction of Nero’s Baths. But below, we see the fragmented ruins, a stark reminder of the transience of human achievements. The contrast speaks volumes about the hubris of emperors and empires. Nero, in particular, was known for his extravagant building projects. The ruins suggest the ultimate futility of such displays. The aestheticization of ruins became a popular trope in art and literature, symbolizing the inevitable decay of even the most powerful civilizations. The drawing encourages us to reflect on how societies construct and remember their past, and how those constructions affect our present.