The House of Marcus Tullius Cicero 1641

Editor: Here we have Giacomo Lauro’s engraving, “The House of Marcus Tullius Cicero.” It looks so formal and symmetrical. What's your interpretation of this architectural rendering? Curator: It presents a vision of power and status, doesn't it? But who gets to live and work in such spaces? Who is excluded by these displays of classical revival architecture? Consider its role in reinforcing social hierarchies. Editor: So, you're saying this image is more than just a pretty building? Curator: Exactly. It provokes questions about access, privilege, and the stories we tell about historical figures like Cicero. What narratives are amplified, and whose voices are silenced? Editor: That gives me a lot to think about. Thanks for widening my perspective. Curator: My pleasure. It’s crucial to see how art is never neutral.