A Reconstruction of the Arch of Domitian (above) and View the Ruins (below) 1690 - 1704

Jan Goeree’s drawing, made with pen, gray ink, and gray wash, presents both a reconstructed elevation and a view of the ruins of the Arch of Domitian. It reflects the cultural obsession with antiquity in the Netherlands during the 17th and 18th centuries. Dutch artists had a complex relationship with classical forms. They saw Rome as the seat of artistic authority, but also as a symbol of foreign domination. This print reveals that tension. Goeree idealizes the Arch, yet depicts it as a ruin. He presents it as a relic of the past. The coins and sculptures add layers to the narrative, reminding us of the layers of interpretation placed on classical forms. Understanding the significance of works like this requires a broad knowledge of art history, the history of ideas, and the social history of artistic institutions. It allows us to understand the Dutch Republic’s engagement with its classical past.