Jean-Victor Bertin

Nestled in the Tiburtine hills, Tivoli is known for its waterfalls, classical ruins, and distant views of the Roman countryside. From ancient times, the area was the site of villas and gardens. Cooler in summer than Rome, it was an oasis for residents and tourists alike and became an essential destination for 19th-century painters. As a teacher, Bertin promoted the intellectual value of landscape painting, espousing nature as the source of both memory and history. Here, a vista of ancient hills is a reminder of the landscape’s existence long before the appearance of Roman and Renaissance architecture. The view also includes an artist and his companion and a group of women in traditional clothing, elements of human interest that appealed to collectors.