Italian Landscape with Antique Ruins c. 1670 - 1680

Emanuel Murant created this Italian Landscape with Antique Ruins on canvas in the 17th century. With browns and tans, he created what appears to be a very tactile surface in this painting. The color, weight, and form of the architectural structure is given its qualities by the thickness of the layers. The artist employed the traditional technique of oil painting to depict what appears to be the remains of a grand building, perhaps a villa or civic structure. The use of this technique suggests Murant engaged with a long lineage of skilled artistic tradition, whilst capturing the essence of a rustic landscape and the everyday lives of its inhabitants. These are not traditional or industrial materials, but in their creation, tied to wider social issues of labor and politics of the time period. Ultimately, it is the interplay of materials, making, and context that allows us to fully appreciate the depth of meaning in Murant's work, challenging the perceived boundaries between fine art and craft.