Chiesa di Santo Spirito in Sassia te Rome 1669 - 1670

Giovanni Battista Falda made this engraving of the Chiesa di Santo Spirito in Sassia in Rome sometime in the late 17th century. It depicts the church along with the attached hospital, which served the poor and foundlings of the city. The image presents a highly ordered view of this institution, emphasizing its role in the social fabric of Rome. The clean lines and symmetrical composition reflect the values of the Catholic Church and its commitment to charity. But this idealized view also glosses over the difficult realities of poverty and disease in the city. As historians, we can look at the urban development of Rome to understand how institutions like Santo Spirito shaped the city's social and physical landscape. By studying maps, architectural plans, and archival records, we can gain a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between art, power, and social welfare in early modern Rome.