The Basilica of Constantine with a Doric Colonnade 1685 - 1690

Niccolò Codazzi painted this oil on canvas imagining the Basilica of Constantine with a Doric Colonnade. It gives us insight into the cultural obsession with the grandeur of antiquity that defined seventeenth-century Italy. The painting creates meaning through the sharp contrast between the ruined, overgrown basilica and the orderly, imposing colonnade. Codazzi is known for his architectural paintings of Roman ruins populated by small figures. Here, those figures seem to reclaim and reinhabit the space, suggesting a reflection on the cyclical nature of civilization. Codazzi likely made such paintings for wealthy patrons on the Grand Tour, a traditional trip of Europe undertaken by upper-class European young men. These works served as souvenirs, a symbol of their owners' status and education. Understanding Codazzi's work requires delving into the artistic institutions of his time, exploring the patronage system, and considering the role of classical education in shaping artistic tastes. By studying such cultural contexts, we can better understand the social life of art.