Twee tekenaars bij het Nymphaeum van Egeria in het Caffarella Park bij Rome 1796

Francis Jukes made this aquatint of the Nymphaeum of Egeria near Rome. The image depicts two artists sketching the ancient ruins, part of a larger trend in the 18th and 19th centuries of Northern European artists traveling to Italy to study classical art and architecture. This fascination with the past was deeply intertwined with the social and political climate of the time. In Britain, for example, wealthy families often sent their sons on the 'Grand Tour' of Europe, to complete their education, and viewing classical art was a key part of this. As Europe was undergoing rapid social and political change, the ruins of Rome offered a powerful connection to a perceived golden age of order and civic virtue. By studying artists' sketchbooks and travel accounts, we can better understand how these images reflected and shaped the cultural values of their time, but also reinforced social hierarchies.