Interior of a Palace c. 19th century

Curator: Here we have Domenico Amici’s “Interior of a Palace,” a plate print currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels like a dream, all delicate lines and airy space. So precise, yet somehow…unfinished? Curator: Precisely! Amici’s sharp use of perspective creates a seemingly endless depth within the palace. Note the repetition of the columns and the intricate coffered ceilings. Editor: The figures scattered throughout seem almost like afterthoughts, tiny amidst such grandeur. Do you think they feel lost in there, or empowered by it? Curator: Perhaps a bit of both. They emphasize the sheer scale, and also draw the viewer into imagining themselves within that space, contemplating its power. Editor: Right, like we’re meant to wander those halls ourselves. A fascinating glimpse into a space that feels both real and completely imagined.