Galeriae Farnesianae: Mercury c. 17th century

Curator: This is Pietro Aquila's "Galeriae Farnesianae: Mercury," a striking engraving. The drama! Mercury plummets from the sky, horn blaring. What catches your eye? Editor: The overt display of idealized male forms, and how they are positioned. What does the positioning of the figures tell us about power and perception in 17th-century Rome? Curator: Exactly! Consider the historical context: the Farnese Gallery was a celebration of masculine power and classical ideals. How might Aquila's print both uphold and subtly critique these notions? Think about the male gaze, and who is afforded agency. Editor: That’s a great point. It makes me consider who this work was intended for, and how their position influenced their gaze. Thanks for opening my eyes to this. Curator: And thank you, for reminding me that art is never truly neutral. It reflects and shapes the society from which it emerges.