In search of Carthage. Drawings by Elisa Pesapane at the National Museum of Antiquities

The commission given to artist Elisa Pesapane by the National Museum of Antiquities brought together her passions: drawing, antiquity, research and portraiture. From today, twelve drawings about 'le solitaire des ruines': military engineer Jean Emile Humbert in search of the city Carthago.

Portrait

Italian-Dutch artist Elisa Pesapane (b. 1977) is, among other things, a literary illustrator. Portraiture is one of her specialities: the faces she draws are refined and detailed. 'That's why this has been a very nice invitation for me,' says Pesapane. 'It was an opportunity to combine my love for portraiture, antiquity and research. I more often move between different worlds with my work. Before making these drawings, I spent a long time in archives. In the process, it was very inspiring to rummage through all the travel cahiers of Jean Emile Humbert.'

Carthago

In her drawings, Pesapane depicted the journey through Tunisia of Dutch military engineer Jean Emile Humbert (1771-1839). The latter left for Tunis in 1796 to build a port there, but gradually became more and more fascinated by the ancient Punic city of Carthage. He therefore set out in search of the site where the city would have been located. On the way there, he collected and recorded all kinds of antiquities.

During this trip, he met and befriended the Italian count Camillo Borgia. From that day on, they travelled together. So they undertook expeditions to various sites in Tunisia, making notes, maps and drawings of the ruins and antiquities they came across. Then, in 1817, Humbert actually discovered the location of the ancient city of Carthage.

Upon returning to the Netherlands, he donated his collection of antiquities treasures to the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, which had been founded in 1818. Humbert thus became an important 'agent' of the museum. He then collected for the museum Punic and Roman antiquities in Tunis, and acquired Egyptian, Etruscan and Roman collections.

Gravestones

Two hundred years later, Pesapane chose the highlights from that journey of nearly two decades. 'Together, these 12 drawings tell Humbert's story from the moment he arrives in Tunis and sets out in search of Carthage. Borgia and Humbert share a love of antiquity and undertake expeditions together.

After several years, Borgia goes to Italy with their writings to have them published. Just then, Humbert discovers the location of Carthage through the discovery of tombstones, which are also on display at RMO. Pesapane: 'Borgia dies of malaria in Italy that year, so that publication never came. But their expeditions were very important.'

No simple pictures

The series begins with Humbert's arrival in Tunis, where he tries to master the language and learn the country's customs. There, he delves into Tunisia's history and tradition and draws pictures of locals. There he meets Camillo Borgia and the focus shifts to their expeditions and discoveries.

'I try to make the story rise above a simple picture story about history. That is why there is a lot of preliminary work involved, because all the details have to be right,' Pesapane says.

'I try to empathise with the characters' moods, and read a lot about them. But the exhibition is also visited by people who have no idea about history. So it also just has to be beautiful and interesting images, with a good relationship between light and dark, for example. For instance, one of the drawings shows a tomb with Borgia on top. With that, he is actually drawing the building he is sitting on. Humbert looks at him and writes on paper with a quill. I hope in this way the passion they shared can be seen in their facial expressions.'

Queen Dido

The mythical founder of the city of Carthage is Dido, says Pesapane. 'That is why you see a female figure throughout the drawings, which Camillo and Jean Emile are running after, so to speak. That woman is Queen Dido. In one of the drawings, Humbert sits on a pile of stones with a horse and a palm tree - the symbols of Tunis -, and a woman whose hand rests on his shoulder. Thus, as it were, he gets closer and closer to her.'