Album met voorstellingen van kerken en paleizen te Rome after 1699

This album of prints, made by Giovanni Battista Falda in Rome in the late 17th century, presents idealized views of the city’s churches and palaces. But how did the artist choose which buildings to depict, and for what purpose? The Rome of Falda's time was a city being consciously shaped by the Catholic Church as a center of religious power, intended to impress visitors and locals alike. Aristocratic families also competed to display their wealth and status through the construction of elaborate palazzi. Printmakers played a key role in promoting these images, both to those who could visit the city and those who could not. Albums like this catered to the Grand Tour market, and to wealthy tourists who sought to take images of Rome’s architectural wonders back home with them. By examining the architectural history of these buildings and the biographies of their patrons, we can understand the subtle social and political meanings conveyed by Falda's work.