Zaal met buste van Francesco Morosini in het Dogepaleis te Venetië 1728

Editor: Here we have Jan Caspar Philips’s 1728 engraving, "Zaal met buste van Francesco Morosini in het Dogepaleis te Venetië." What a mouthful! I’m struck by how busy the scene is, almost chaotic with its blend of figures, architecture, and symbolism. What do you make of it? Curator: Chaotic is one word for it, I think energetic suits the era better! To me, it feels like stepping into a meticulously staged theatrical production. Notice the architectural framing of Morosini's bust – it's almost as if the Doge's Palace itself is holding him up, literally and metaphorically. It's fascinating how Philips uses the detailed linework of the engraving to capture both the grandeur of the setting and the almost frenetic activity of the figures populating the space, wouldn't you say? Do you see how even the dogs have somewhere to be, as the putti fly overhead, drawing our eyes heavenward? Editor: The energy is definitely contagious. I'm curious about Morosini though – who was he, and why all this pomp and circumstance? Curator: Ah, Morosini! A 17th-century Doge of Venice and military leader, quite the celebrated figure in his time. The bust immortalizes his legacy, and the engraving showcases how the Venetians chose to remember him. Philips has essentially created a piece of propaganda, glorifying both the man and the Venetian state. The way the light catches the marble, almost like a spotlight, directs our attention to this very purpose, I think. Editor: So, it's more than just a depiction of a room; it's a carefully constructed image intended to project power and historical significance. I never would have thought of it that way on my own. Curator: Precisely! Art often speaks in whispers. Or, in this case, rather grand pronouncements, now that we've given it a chance to tell its story. It makes me think about how we want to be remembered. Do we want to be immortalized by way of great deeds, too? Editor: Hmm. Or great art, perhaps? Food for thought, certainly. Thanks for all of this!