Römischer Tempel mit einer Apollostatue 

Giorgio Fuentes made this drawing of a Roman temple with an Apollo statue sometime around the late 18th century. It's a vision of classical antiquity, filtered through the lens of Fuentes' own time. Look at the architectural details. The grandeur of the temple, the rows of columns, the coffered ceiling – they evoke the power and sophistication of ancient Rome. But this isn't just a historical record. It’s an interpretation. In the 1700s, there was a renewed interest in classical art and architecture. Artists like Fuentes looked to the past for inspiration, but they also brought their own ideas and values to their work. They often looked to the past to find justification for the social and political structures of their own time. To understand this drawing better, we might look at architectural treatises, travelogues, and archaeological reports from the period. By understanding the social and institutional context in which it was made, we can begin to understand its lasting importance to us today.