Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae: The Colosseum 1530 - 1580

This print of the Colosseum was made in Rome, most likely in the 16th century, using engraving on a copper plate. It reflects a new public role for art. The Colosseum would have been well-known as a ruined architectural wonder, but this print participates in a cultural project of recording and disseminating images of Roman antiquity. With the rise of the printing press, art became reproducible and available to a wider audience. This print comes from a collection called *Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae,* or "Mirror of Roman Magnificence," which aimed to document Rome's ancient monuments. The image depicts the Colosseum in a state of decay, overgrown with vegetation. The printmaker uses visual codes to evoke a sense of history and the passage of time. We can learn more about the Colosseum and its cultural significance by consulting historical sources, archaeological reports, and architectural studies. The meaning of this print is contingent on the social and institutional context in which it was made and consumed.