Gewelfdecoratie uit Pallazzo Barberini 1692 - 1762

This print depicts a fragment of vault decoration from the Palazzo Barberini, and was probably made shortly after the building’s completion in the 1630s. We don't know the artist, but they were clearly skilled in the intaglio printmaking technique. The image is essentially a highly precise transcription. The artist’s labour went towards capturing every single detail of surface and texture, line and shadow. Look closely, and you will see that the architectural ornament is itself teeming with figures, allegories, and symbolic devices. The stone carvers who originally made this decoration would have likewise been highly skilled. Vaults like these were meant to impress. The Barberini family wanted to communicate their power and cultivated taste. Consider the sheer amount of work that went into this image, multiplied by the dimensions of the palace it commemorates. That is a potent reminder of the social relations involved in the production of art and architecture. This print reminds us that while we might admire the skill of the artist, we should also be aware of the broader economic context.