Pauselijk feest op de Testaccio in Rome in 1534 1554

Étienne Dupérac’s engraving depicts a papal celebration on the Testaccio in Rome in 1534. It gives us a glimpse into the culture of spectacle and power in the Eternal City during the Renaissance. The image illustrates an elaborate tournament, a common form of public entertainment orchestrated by the papacy to display its wealth and influence. The festivities take place in a specially constructed arena, filled with horsemen. Spectators crowd the perimeter, including dignitaries in elaborate stands. In the background, the skyline of Rome is visible, dominated by familiar landmarks. Dupérac’s print provides us with rich information about the social conditions that shaped artistic production. By consulting contemporary sources like festival books, accounts, and diaries, historians can reconstruct the complex network of relationships between patrons, artists, and audiences. This image underlines the role of art in constructing and reinforcing social hierarchies, and the part played by institutions in shaping artistic expression.