Interieur van de koepel van de Sint-Pietersbasiliek in Vaticaanstad c. 1850 - 1880

Editor: This is a gelatin-silver print, circa 1850-1880, by Lorenzo Suscipi. It’s called "Interieur van de koepel van de Sint-Pietersbasiliek in Vaticaanstad"—Interior of the dome of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. The scale of the architecture seems incredible, especially rendered in this early photographic format. What stands out to you when you look at this image? Curator: What I find striking is how this seemingly objective document of architectural grandeur is deeply entangled with power. The Vatican, as depicted here, isn't just a building; it’s a symbol of centuries of patriarchal control and cultural dominance. Think about the labour and resources extracted to construct such a space, and who benefitted from that. Does the photograph critique this in any way? Editor: That's a really interesting perspective. I was initially just thinking about the technical skill involved in capturing such a vast space, but you're right, it represents something much larger and more complex. Do you think Suscipi was intentionally making a statement about power? Curator: Perhaps not overtly. However, photography itself was, and is, never neutral. Consider who had access to this technology at the time and how images like this reinforced a certain narrative of Western cultural achievement. This basilica, a place of supposed spiritual refuge, is presented almost as a monument to worldly authority. Editor: So, by simply documenting it, Suscipi may have been, unconsciously, complicit in reinforcing that power structure? Curator: Precisely. And it’s vital that we analyze these historical visual texts with that understanding. How do images, even ones that appear purely documentary, participate in broader systems of belief and power? Editor: I see what you mean. I hadn't considered photography in that light before. This really changes how I look at historical images now. Curator: Excellent. Questioning the accepted narratives is where real understanding begins.