Blessed Peter Acotanto c. 18th century

Editor: This is Francesco Bartolozzi's "Blessed Peter Acotanto," a print of an older man giving to the poor. It strikes me as very formal, even staged. How do you interpret the message here? Curator: It is staged, isn't it? Note how Acotanto’s generosity is framed within the visual language of nobility and religious piety. What does it mean to depict charity, not as an act of genuine empathy, but as a performance legitimizing power structures? Editor: So you're saying it's less about altruism and more about reinforcing social hierarchies? Curator: Precisely. Consider the historical context: Venice was a republic built on mercantile wealth. Acotanto's "charity" may be less about helping the poor and more about maintaining social control and justifying wealth disparity. Editor: That definitely shifts my perspective. I hadn't considered the power dynamics at play. Curator: Art often serves to legitimize existing social orders, even under the guise of benevolence. Editor: Thank you. I will be looking into the socio-political context more often from now on.