Gezicht op het Philopappos Monument 1758

Editor: We’re looking at "View of the Philopappos Monument" by Jacques Philippe Le Bas, an engraving from 1758 housed in the Rijksmuseum. I'm immediately struck by the way the crumbling monument dominates the landscape, yet it's also softened by the presence of people sketching it. What historical narratives do you see at play here? Curator: It's fascinating to consider this image through the lens of 18th-century Neoclassicism. This wasn’t simply a neutral record of the monument, but part of a larger movement of "Grand Tourists" traveling to classical lands. How does this image participate in creating a shared European cultural identity rooted in the classical past? Editor: So, this engraving wasn't just documenting a site, but shaping perceptions of it back home? Curator: Exactly! The very act of creating and distributing prints like these established the significance of specific sites. Who had access to these prints and, in turn, what specific ideas about the classical world were disseminated? The scale of the monument compared to the tiny figures could even imply something about power, about a glorious past in ruins. What kind of impact would these images have on art students at the time? Editor: I hadn’t thought about the role of access before. So the rise of these prints went hand-in-hand with the popularity and institutionalization of Neoclassicism? Curator: Precisely. The monument exists within this social and economic framework of art production, influencing taste and reinforcing cultural narratives that we are still unpacking today. Editor: This print definitely gives me a new perspective on Neoclassicism! Thanks! Curator: And it helps us consider how seemingly objective depictions can actively shape and reinforce certain historical and cultural perspectives. A lot to think about.