Book III.66. Qumtius Capitolinus summoning people for assembly {Primae Decadis Liber Tertius p. XXXII verso} 1493

Editor: Here we have an anonymous work, "Book III.66. Qumtius Capitolinus summoning people for assembly," from the Harvard Art Museums. It's a simple black and white image, a crowd scene. What can you tell me about its context? Curator: Well, let's consider what an assembly means. It suggests a public, political act. This image, likely from a printed book, played a role in shaping public understanding of Roman history. How does the artist portray power dynamics here? Editor: It seems pretty clear; the robed figures are elevated, both literally and figuratively, over the crowd. Curator: Exactly. The image reinforces a hierarchical structure. What does that tell us about the book's intended audience and its potential biases? This image visualizes and perhaps legitimizes a certain social order. Editor: That's a great point. I hadn't considered how a simple illustration could convey so much about power and social structure. Curator: It’s a reminder that even seemingly straightforward images can be powerful tools of persuasion.