Gevel op de binnenplaats van Palazzo del Quirinale after 1655

Giovanni Battista Falda created this print of the courtyard facade of the Palazzo del Quirinale in Rome sometime before 1678. Architectural prints like this served several important functions in seventeenth-century Italy. The Palazzo del Quirinale was the Pope’s official residence, and this print emphasizes the building's grandeur and imposing scale. The clean lines and precise details reflect the values of the classical tradition that was being revived in Rome at the time. Architectural prints like this were often commissioned by the architects themselves or by wealthy patrons, to promote their work and enhance their reputations. They helped to shape architectural tastes and standards. The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam acquired this print as part of a larger collection, where it could be studied and appreciated by artists, architects, and collectors alike. To fully understand this print, we can consult a variety of resources, including architectural treatises, biographies of the architects involved, and historical accounts of Rome during the period.