Fan

Rome was one of the most popular cities on the ‘Grand Tour’ of Europe. From about 1750 to 1790 many Britons visited the city. They bought fans made for the tourist industry that commemorated well-known ‘sights’.

The leaf of this fan illustrates the Piazza del Popolo. This fine square is situated at the entry to Rome from the north and is the first memorable view of the city. On the right is a view of the Colosseum and on the left is the tomb of Cecilia Metella. The delicate swags that make up the decorative borders of the vignettes show the influence of the Neo-classical style of the late 18th century.