Gezicht op het paleis en de tuin van kardinaal Ludovico Ludovisi before 1683

Giovanni Battista Falda created this print, "View of the Palace and Garden of Cardinal Ludovico Ludovisi" without a specified date, offering a glimpse into the life and times of 17th-century Rome. During this period, the Catholic Church wielded immense power. Falda’s detailed rendering presents not just a palace and garden but a statement of wealth, influence, and control. Ludovico Ludovisi was the nephew of Pope Gregory XV, which undoubtedly shaped his life and career. The garden itself becomes a stage for the performance of status. It invites us to consider the social hierarchy of the time and the lives of those who maintained such lavish estates. It is impossible to ignore that the beautiful palace was built on the backs of laborers, in a city that was rife with inequality. Falda's image invites us to reflect on the contrasts between the opulence enjoyed by a select few and the unseen labor that sustained it.