Elevation "della nuova Galleria" 1796 - 1873

Editor: Here we have Giovanni Battista Silvestri's "Elevation 'della nuova Galleria'," made between 1796 and 1873, a drawing with print and watercolor. It feels very technical, but with an almost dreamlike quality because of the colors and rendering. What catches your eye in this piece? Curator: I'm interested in the production of this image. It’s not simply a drawing, but a drawing made into a print, then accented with watercolor. This reproduction transforms the original architectural intent, democratizing the design, even while catering to a potentially elite consumer of art. Consider the labor involved – the architect, the printmaker, and potentially someone adding the watercolor. Editor: So the "hand" is distributed? Curator: Precisely! It moves away from a single artistic genius. I also notice the materials being depicted - the marble, the wood, the fabric. These luxurious materials speak to a certain class, while the medium - a relatively accessible print - reaches a wider audience. It’s a tension between exclusivity and broader access mediated by the means of production. What does this juxtaposition of materials, both depicted and used to depict, suggest to you? Editor: It makes me think about consumption. Owning a print of a gallery is different than owning the gallery itself! Curator: Exactly! This print becomes a commodity, a piece of the gallery that can be bought and sold. The labor that created this image becomes separated from its purpose. Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered! Focusing on the labor and the materials really opened up a whole new layer of understanding for me. Curator: It shows how even seemingly straightforward architectural renderings can reveal complex social and economic relationships when we consider the materiality of their production and consumption.