Palazzo di Montecitorio te Rome Possibly 1675 - 1717

Pieter Schenk’s “Palazzo di Montecitorio te Rome” is an engraving made in the late 17th or early 18th century. It depicts the Palazzo di Montecitorio, now the seat of the Italian Parliament in Rome. Schenk's work provides insight into the cultural and political landscape of his time. During this period, Rome was a center of power, and images like this played a role in shaping perceptions of authority and governance. The grand architectural style of the Palazzo, rendered with precision, communicates a sense of enduring power. Look closely at the figures in the foreground. Who were these people populating the scene? Were they meant to represent the general public, or a more privileged class? How do these figures humanize the grand architecture, or perhaps emphasize its distance from everyday life? The Palazzo was initially commissioned by the powerful Ludovisi family, later becoming a papal seat. This history is embedded in the stone, and in the stories, both visible and invisible, that the building holds.