Villa Altieri te Rome 1699

This print of the Villa Altieri in Rome was made by Alessandro Specchi, an Italian architect, artist and engraver, around the turn of the 18th century. It captures not just the architecture, but the landscaping, layout, and even the activities around this important building. What can this image tell us about the culture of its time? Consider the way the architect, Giovanni Antonio de Rossi, has situated the Villa on the Esquiline Hill, using its elevation to project power. Symmetry and classical references communicate the values of the Roman elite. The layout of the gardens, with their carefully arranged vegetation, statues, and fountains, was a theatrical setting for social display. Through city plans, architectural drawings, and prints such as this, we can understand the aspirations of the Roman aristocracy and the social function of art and architecture. By examining the archives of the Altieri family, as well as period descriptions, we can better appreciate the political role of buildings like this in early modern Rome.