Gezicht op de Zuil van Marcus Aurelius op het Piazza Colonna in Rome before 1898

This is an anonymous print depicting the Column of Marcus Aurelius in Piazza Colonna, Rome. Such images like these were integral to the visual culture of the period. The column, erected in the late second century AD to commemorate Roman military victories, became an important symbol of imperial power. Its prominent placement in the Piazza Colonna underscores the relationship between art, power, and public space. Consider the history of Rome itself: from republic, to empire, to papacy. A monument of imperial triumph becomes a backdrop for Papal processions of a later age. How can we read such palimpsests of history? What lasting power did the Roman empire have over the city itself? To truly understand an image like this, art historians consult a wide range of sources. From urban plans and civic records to personal letters and diaries, these resources can help us reconstruct the historical context in which the artwork was produced and consumed.