Konstantin den Stores triumfbue 1740 - 1752

This is Jean Laurent Legeay's etching of the Arch of Constantine. Made in the 18th century, it depicts a famous Roman monument. Legeay was working during a time when the Grand Tour was at its peak. This was a period when wealthy Europeans, particularly the British, would travel to Italy to experience its art, culture, and history. Architectural drawings and prints like this one were popular souvenirs, serving as both mementos of the trip and as status symbols, demonstrating the owner's refined taste and education. The image itself is interesting; the Arch of Constantine was erected to commemorate a military victory, but also became a symbol of Imperial power and continuity, and a site of public gathering. Legeay’s work documents not only the arch itself, but also the cultural value placed on classical antiquity by the European elite of his time. Art historical research into the Grand Tour, the history of collecting, and the social functions of art can reveal a great deal about works like this. Art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.