Zypressen im Park der Villa d'Este 1835

Carl Morgenstern painted these cypresses in the park of the Villa d'Este with oil on paper. This Villa, located in Tivoli near Rome, provides an interesting case study in the relationship between art, power, and social change. The Villa d'Este was built in the 16th century for Cardinal Ippolito d'Este, and it’s celebrated for its elaborate gardens and fountains. By the 19th century, when Morgenstern painted this, the gardens had become a popular destination for artists and tourists alike, symbolizing the allure of Italy's classical past. Morgenstern's choice to focus on the cypresses, with their classical associations of death and the afterlife, may reflect a broader cultural interest in ruins and the passage of time. What would a visit to the archives of institutions of art and tourism, teach us about the way this location was framed for public consumption?