Two Maps of Ancient Rome with a River God and Romulus and Remus by Jan Goeree: magic of mythology

Jan Goeree’s work offers a detailed and elaborate representation of ancient Rome enriched with mythological elements. The two maps depict the imperial city with its main monuments and the famous seven hills, integrated with allegorical figures such as the river god and the iconic scene of Romulus and Remus being suckled by the she-wolf. The overall atmosphere blends cartographic precision with symbolic narration, conveying a sense of historical grandeur and fascination with Roman mythology. The work stands out due to its accuracy in defining urban details and the decorative richness that brings the representation to life, almost like a visual story of the city’s glorious past.

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Style
The work fits within the context of the late Baroque, a period when cartography acquired both aesthetic and educational value. Goeree’s style reflects the influence of the Northern European engraving tradition, particularly Dutch, characterized by a precise yet elegant line and a well-balanced composition. The maps clearly derive from 17th-century cartographic art, focusing keenly on detail and the balance between geographic and figurative elements. The use of bird’s-eye perspective allows for a faithful depiction of the city’s morphology while including emblematic figures with strong visual impact. This stylistic approach combines scientific rigor with decorative sensibility, typical of cartography aimed at both educational and celebratory purposes.

Color and lighting
The work features sober and harmonious tones typical of the copper engraving technique used at the time. Dominant colors include shades of gray and brown, with lighter and darker accents defining the volume and depth of structures and figures. The lighting is delicate, diffused, and even, avoiding sharp contrasts in order to maintain overall readability. Tonal variations are skillfully applied to highlight architectural details and bring forward focal points such as the river god and Romulus and Remus. The light seems to emit a soft, ancient atmosphere, enhancing the feeling of a venerable and precious map.

Spatial management
Goeree demonstrates great skill in the management of the depicted space, achieving a balance between depth and clarity. Aerial perspective allows multiple visual planes to overlap, clearly showing the city and its surrounding landscape. The distribution of elements follows very precise topographical rules, where the most important buildings appear more detailed, while the landscape gradually decreases in detail toward the background. The presence of allegorical and mythological figures, like the river god seemingly flowing through the map, creates a dynamic interplay between real and symbolic space, enriching the visual reading.

Composition and framing
The maps are constructed with a harmonious and carefully planned composition that naturally guides the viewer’s gaze through the scene. The bird’s-eye view broadens the visual field without distorting perspective, offering a wide yet detailed view that engages the observer. Key points of interest are emphasized, while the river’s course and legendary figures serve as unifying elements that impart movement and cohesion to the entire composition.

Technique and materials

The work is a refined preparatory drawing on paper, created by Jan Goeree with pen and black ink, gray wash, and red chalk, with some incised lines on the support to facilitate transfer. This combination of techniques gives the works an extraordinary sharpness of line and a tonal depth that enriches both the architectural and figurative rendering. The result is a work of great graphic precision, able to merge the documentary function of cartography with the aesthetic richness typical of the late Baroque.