Festa della Sensa (vierde gedeelte) 1679

Curator: Editor: Jost Amman’s engraving, "Festa della Sensa (vierde gedeelte)" from 1679, showcases a detailed cityscape scene with a fascinating allegorical scene floating above it all. There’s so much activity crammed into the image; it’s incredibly detailed. What stands out to you most when you look at it? Curator: You know, it strikes me how Amman blends the earthly and the divine here. Look at the meticulous detail he dedicates to the architecture, and then you see this celestial allegory sort of plopped right on top. I wonder if Amman perhaps liked this superimposition. A bit comical, isn't it? And that perspective… Do you get a sense of reality, or something more dreamlike? Editor: Dreamlike, definitely. The lion with wings…and what is that figure crowning it? And the procession seems utterly unphased by this happening right above them! Do you think that it refers to Venice? I am struggling to understand that symbolism. Curator: Spot on! The lion is Saint Mark of Venice. That lady could be Venice personified crowning him. I think what you are sensing here is civic pride; they were quite the force back then, in trading and conquest. Do you also sense almost an aspiration there, wanting it to be larger than life? Editor: That makes a lot of sense. So it’s like a…PR exercise? Reminding people of their power? Curator: Precisely! A little visual propaganda, perhaps. And considering the context of its time—Europe was changing significantly –you have to imagine they want people to buy in. What is more fascinating: that there is no mention in any history book about the parade below, or this allegory on top? I think it is genius! Editor: Propaganda, huh? Makes you wonder about all the hidden messages in art, doesn’t it? This piece really opened my eyes to how art can be a historical record, but also a carefully constructed message. Thanks for sharing that! Curator: My pleasure! It is always worth reading between the lines. Perhaps everything around us hides deeper motivations? Something to think about!