Interieur van de kerk de Collegiata di San Tommaso da Villanova 1665 - 1667

Editor: This is "Interieur van de kerk de Collegiata di San Tommaso da Villanova," an engraving from sometime between 1665 and 1667 by Giovanni Battista Falda, currently held at the Rijksmuseum. It's a wonderfully precise depiction of a church interior. What strikes me most is how the lines almost vibrate with light. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It's as though Falda’s pen danced across the page, isn't it? For me, beyond the architectural precision – and believe me, that's a feat in itself! – I sense a real invitation to stillness. The figures are small, almost dwarfed by the space. It makes me think about our place in something much larger. Does it evoke that for you, too? That feeling of being part of a grand, almost overwhelming design? Editor: I see that. The small figures create a sense of perspective, emphasizing the grandness. So, is it about religious experience? Curator: Perhaps, or perhaps it's more broadly about the experience of awe. Think about the Baroque period, its love of drama and grandeur, how these architectural spaces were designed to inspire precisely that feeling. It’s less about dictating belief and more about instilling a sense of wonder, right? Editor: That makes a lot of sense. I was so focused on the detail that I missed that bigger picture of…well, the bigger picture. Curator: Art's funny like that. It whispers until you decide to really listen, right? Editor: Absolutely. This has made me see the print completely differently. Thank you!