This exhibition is no longer on view at the National Gallery.

Travel literature and city guides pertaining to the Italian peninsula published from the late 17th to the early 19th century provide a window into the life of artists during this period. Whether giving a first person account of his or her journey, supplying the illustrations for guidebooks, surveying the local architecture, or studying sites from antiquity, we get a sense of the priorities and commissions available to artists through these books.

Organization: The exhibition was organized by the National Gallery of Art. Neal Turtell, executive librarian was curator.

Passes: Admission is always free and passes are not required