Presso alla Navicella c. 17th century

Editor: This etching, "Presso alla Navicella" by Giovanni Battista Mercati, depicts Roman ruins. I’m immediately struck by the contrast between the detailed foreground and the hazier background, giving it a sense of depth. What strikes you about it? Curator: Mercati's print participates in a visual culture that romanticized ruins, connecting present viewers to Rome's powerful past. The "Navicella" mosaic was itself a landmark, and here the artist highlights how even fragments become focal points in the city's identity. Consider the role of prints like this in shaping perceptions of Rome for those who couldn't visit. Editor: So, it’s about more than just showing ruins, but about shaping an idea of Rome? Curator: Precisely. It uses the past to construct a certain image of the present. It makes you think about who this image was intended for and what kind of power that holds. Editor: That's a totally different way of looking at it; thinking about its cultural impact! Curator: Glad to offer a new perspective; it really underscores how art exists within a web of social forces.