Vrouw met kind bij de ruïnes van het Colosseum 1640

Bartholomeus Breenbergh etched this image of a woman with a child by the ruins of the Colosseum in Rome sometime in the 17th century. The print shows that the grandeur of the Roman Empire was starting to decay. During this time, Rome had become a popular destination for artists from Northern Europe looking to learn from classical antiquity and the Italian Renaissance. Breenbergh and his contemporaries often depicted the ruins of ancient Rome alongside scenes of everyday life. This artistic choice could be seen as a commentary on the transience of power and the enduring presence of ordinary people amidst historical change. The rise of academic art institutions influenced the value placed on classical subjects, further shaping the artistic landscape. By studying Breenbergh's life and the broader art market in Rome, we can better understand how cultural values influenced his artistic choices.