La Compagnia dei sacconi al Colosseo (Penitents Praying at Altars in the Colosseum) 1829

Bartolomeo Pinelli made this watercolor and etching on paper depicting penitents praying at altars inside the Colosseum. The printmaking process—etching—enabled Pinelli to disseminate images like this widely. Think of it as a relatively inexpensive means of mass production. The use of etching also lends the image a quality of line and detail that emphasizes the scene's human drama. Here, the artist's process is especially poignant, because the image itself represents a potent combination of labor, spirituality, and historical context. The penitents, shrouded in simple, hand-sewn garments, perform their acts of devotion amidst the ruins of the Colosseum, a place of past labor, now transformed into sacred ground. Their presence highlights the contrast between the spectacle of the ancient Roman games and the solemnity of their religious practice. The artwork’s power lies in its ability to prompt reflection on the relationship between human endeavor, faith, and the passage of time, illustrating how meanings can be layered onto the same physical space.