Portret van Mauro Tesi in medaillon omringd door sculpturale en architectonische elementen 1787

Cesare Massimiliano Gini made this print of Mauro Tesi, surrounded by sculptural and architectural elements, in the late eighteenth century. This Italian print shows us how the art world reflected and bolstered social hierarchies. Notice how the central portrait of Tesi is framed by images of classical architecture and sculpture. This style, popular at the time, sought to connect its subjects to the grandeur and authority of the ancient world, but in doing so, it reinforced the idea that only certain people and institutions were worthy of such associations. The piece thus reflects the conservative social structures of the time, where access to education, patronage, and artistic recognition was limited. To fully understand this print, historians delve into archives, study the biographies of artists and patrons, and examine the social and economic conditions that shaped the art world. These contextual factors highlight how art both reflected and influenced the power dynamics of its time.