Porta Tiburtina te Rome 1566

This is an engraving of the Porta Tiburtina in Rome, but its exact date and the name of its maker are unknown. The image offers a rendering of the imposing gate, replete with inscriptions that reference emperors and their achievements. The very act of creating such an image raises questions about the public role of art and the politics of imagery. In early modern Europe, prints like this one served to disseminate knowledge about classical antiquity. As such, it both reflects and perpetuates the cultural authority of ancient Rome in the present. The gate itself, once a functional part of the city's infrastructure, has been transformed into a monument, its representation here further enshrining its symbolic value. Art historians often turn to sources like city plans, architectural treatises, and archaeological reports to better understand the context and the significance of artworks like this. After all, the meaning of art is contingent on its social and institutional context.