Dimensions: 218 × 311 mm
Copyright: Public Domain
Guglielmo della Porta made this engraving of the Fall of the Giants sometime in the 16th century. In it, we see the classical story of the Olympian Gods defeating the Giants who sought to overthrow them. But this wasn't just a story about the distant past for people in 16th century Italy. It resonated with contemporary concerns about power, authority and rebellion. Look at the way that the Olympian Gods are positioned above the giants. This visual hierarchy would have been immediately read as an endorsement of existing social hierarchies. In this period, the Catholic Church was the supreme power, so we can see the engraving as advocating for a rigid social order. To truly understand the work's implications, we might look at prints and engravings from the time and delve into the social and religious history of 16th century Italy. That's how we understand the real social function of art.
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