Inauguration of the III Session of the XX Legislature 1899

Achille Beltrame made this artwork depicting the "Inauguration of the III Session of the XX Legislature" in Italy. This image offers a window into the political theater of early 20th-century Italy, reflecting the social structures and power dynamics of the time. The rigid formality of the event is emphasized by the architecture and the clothing of the characters. A historical study would reveal the nature of this Legislature and its policies. This image and the reporting of it should be studied in light of Italy's historical context. What are the conditions that led to this event? Does this image offer a progressive critique of the institutions it portrays? Historians use sources such as political manifestos, newspapers, and personal letters to get at the circumstances that influence the creation and the reception of artworks such as this.