Allure of Ancient Rome: Old Masters Prints and Drawings from the Permanent Collection

Showcasing a selection of prints, drawings, and an illustrated book from the Cornell’s permanent collection, this exhibition highlighted the cultural and artistic significance of Roman antiquities in Europe since the Renaissance. The theme of the exhibition shed light on the crucial role played by printed images in the dissemination of knowledge about Roman antiquities and coincided with the long-term loan of a Roman sarcophagus to the Cornell. The selected works, dating between 1540 and 1750, represented Roman stories, sculpted artifacts, or buildings. While some of the works were shown in recent years, others had rarely been displayed.