"Romersk" prospekt 1730 - 1793

Jens Petersen Lund created this "Roman Prospect" drawing with pencil and reddish crayon. It is currently held at the National Gallery of Denmark. The artwork presents a serene landscape in the countryside with old buildings and architectural ruins. The style of the image is reminiscent of the Grand Tour, a rite of passage popular among wealthy Europeans in the 18th and 19th centuries, where young aristocrats and intellectuals would travel across Europe, especially Italy, to immerse themselves in art, history, and culture. Lund, a Danish artist, probably produced this drawing as a record of or preparation for such a journey. The architecture is a visual code of historical knowledge and social status, as only educated people would understand the history behind classical ruins. This drawing reflects the cultural values of the period, where classical antiquity was seen as a source of knowledge. To learn more about this artwork, investigate the social history of the Grand Tour, the cultural politics of 18th-century Europe, and the Danish art scene during the Enlightenment era.