Rome c. 19th century

Curator: This is "Rome" by George Hollis, part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. It pictures the Castel Sant’Angelo across the river. Editor: It’s quite captivating! The light seems to focus on the water, drawing your eye toward the city's heart. Curator: Hollis’s work reflects the 19th-century fascination with Rome, seen as a crucial site for understanding Western history and culture. Editor: And what about the figures near the water's edge? Are they symbolic of the everyday lives intertwined with such grand historical narratives? Curator: Precisely. Consider how the image itself, as a print, democratized access to the city's iconic views. It brought Rome into people’s homes. Editor: I’m left pondering the contrast between Rome’s monumental history and the quiet lives playing out along the riverbanks. Curator: It makes me consider the various ways imagery shapes our perception of place and history.