Vignette.

Subiaco in the Roman province of Italy was and is an important religious and tourist resort forming part of a Catholic pilgrimage route. The college of priests referred to in the title probably refers to one of the many religious buildings the city contains.

There are two instances of the Herschels travelling to Italy in the 19th century one of which in all probability resulted in the aquisition of this print. The first is in the 1820s when John Herschel (Snr) made a number of trips across the continent with friends, mainly from Cambridge, to meet important scientists and carry out experiments. The other was much later, in the 1870s when a number of John's daughters travelled to Italy as part of their education in art.

Margaret Brodie Herschel (nee Stewart)'s family was very interested and involved in the Christian religion and Margaret herself ensured that her and John's children grew up with a good understanding of that religion. Though they were followers of the Scottish church, their interest in other forms of Christianity extended beyond this.