Italian landscape 

August Lucas made this pencil drawing entitled “Italian Landscape” in the 19th century. It evokes the aesthetic of the picturesque, which invited viewers to appreciate nature as a thing of beauty that also had the potential to evoke feelings of awe. The image shows a landscape with trees and shrubs growing in the foreground. In the 19th century, travel to locations in Italy became a rite of passage for upper class Europeans who were part of the Grand Tour. Artists like Lucas followed the routes of these wealthy individuals, providing them with views of the landscape that could be purchased as souvenirs of their travels. The Städel Museum, where this drawing is now located, serves as a reminder of the growth of public museums as an institution in 19th century Europe. In understanding such images, a social historian looks at how the drawing was made, who was its intended audience, and how museums shape the way we understand its meaning today.