The Gardens of Lucullus 1641

Editor: This is Giacomo Lauro's "The Gardens of Lucullus," a black and white plate print. It gives off a very ordered, almost regimented feel. What do you see in this piece that jumps out at you? Curator: The severe symmetry is arresting, isn't it? It’s a representation, perhaps idealized, of Roman luxury, a kind of power fantasy rendered in landscape. Notice how the architecture dominates nature; the gardens are meticulously shaped. I wonder, what do you make of the mountains in the background? Editor: They seem... distant, almost like stage scenery. Curator: Exactly! They are a reminder of a world beyond control, yet firmly in the background. Perhaps a comment on the limits of power, or maybe just a stylistic choice. Food for thought! Editor: I see it! Thanks for pointing out the mountains; I'll never look at gardens the same way again.