De fontein in Radicofani (Siena) 1786 - 1857

Abraham Teerlink made this grey paper drawing of the fountain in Radicofani, Siena. Born in the late 18th century, Teerlink lived through a time of massive social upheaval with the rise and fall of Napoleon. Teerlink was a Dutch painter who travelled extensively, capturing landscapes with a neoclassicist bent. The fountain, with its classical facade, sits in front of the town of Radicofani in the Italian countryside. In this drawing, Teerlink represents the Italian landscape through the lens of the Grand Tour. For centuries, wealthy Europeans, mostly men, travelled around Europe to experience its culture. Italy was central to this tour, and the landscape of the country became associated with the aesthetic values of the elite. Although beautiful, this work also speaks to the complex politics of travel, class, and representation. It reminds us that landscapes are never neutral; instead, they are laden with the perspectives of those who have the privilege to see and represent them.