Sculptuur van Romulus en Remus en de wolf, in de Capitolijnse Musea te Rome c. 1857 - 1875

James Anderson made this photograph of the sculpture of Romulus and Remus and the wolf in the Capitoline Museums in Rome. The image speaks to the potent public role of art and the politics of imagery. The sculpture depicts the mythical founders of Rome suckling from a she-wolf. This imagery creates meaning through cultural references, evoking the foundational narrative of Roman civilization. Made in Italy, it taps into Rome's historical associations with power, law, and empire. It subtly comments on the social structures of its time, referencing a glorious past to perhaps critique or idealize contemporary society. The Capitoline Museums themselves represent an institutional effort to preserve and showcase Rome's artistic heritage, shaping public perception of history. Understanding this work more deeply requires historical research, exploring the sculpture's original context, its later reception, and the cultural significance of Roman mythology. Art's meaning is contingent on its social and institutional backdrop.