Binnenplaats van Palazzo Marino te Milaan 1862 - 1886

Luigi Conconi made this print of the Palazzo Marino courtyard in Milan, likely in the late 19th or early 20th century. It’s a study in the visual language of power. The Palazzo, now Milan’s City Hall, was built in the 16th century as a private residence for a wealthy banker. Conconi focuses on the architecture, reproducing its intricate details and visual grandeur in monochrome. We can appreciate the skill involved in capturing the elaborate carvings and the play of light and shadow. But we can also ask, what does this language of classical motifs and careful ornamentation communicate? It speaks to the enduring importance of tradition and the consolidation of wealth in modern Milan. To understand more, we might look into the history of Milanese architecture and the families who commissioned these buildings. We might also investigate the institutions that preserved them as symbols of civic pride. The print reminds us that art is never separate from the social structures that support it.