In this episode, we explore 19th-century Mexico’s strategic choice to look to Rome for inspiration in shaping its national art scene. Following independence, Mexico funded artists to study at Rome’s Accademia di San Luca, seeking to adopt its techniques while crafting a unique Mexican identity. Figures like Pellegrín Clavé and Manuel Vilar brought back not only skills but a vision that merged Mexican and Roman styles. This cultural exchange reveals how art served as both a bridge and a statement of national pride, blending legacy and innovation.