View of the St Peter's Basilica and Piazza, the foreground with elaborate carriages 1772

Giovanni Battista Piranesi created this print of St. Peter's Basilica and Piazza during a time when Rome was both a site of religious power and a destination for the wealthy. Piranesi, working in the 18th century, captured not only the grandeur of the architecture but also the social stratification of the era. The elaborate carriages in the foreground aren't mere details; they're emblems of aristocratic privilege. The carriages contrast with the implied presence of the common people, who are reduced to the scale of ants in the vast piazza. Piranesi seems to be making a silent commentary on the disparities of wealth and status within the city. There is an undeniable emotional element in contemplating this image; a sense of awe mixed with a critical awareness of the social dynamics at play. It serves as a reminder that even the most sublime art is often intertwined with the realities of power and class.