Row of houses in Perugia 1824

Nikolaus Hoff made this pencil drawing, "Row of houses in Perugia," sometime in the 19th century. Hoff, a German artist who traveled to Italy, was part of a broader movement of Northern European artists drawn to the Italian landscape. This drawing offers us a glimpse into the visual culture of the time and how it influenced artists like Hoff. The artwork reflects the period's fascination with classical architecture. These buildings, rendered with precision, embody a particular kind of architectural elegance. We might consider how the urban landscape, the city itself, operates as a stage upon which human dramas unfold. What stories do these houses hold? What might it mean to live in one of these houses? It’s as if the architectural rendering isn’t just a depiction of buildings, but an invitation to imagine the lives intertwined within.