Church of Saint Giustina, Padua c. 18th century

Editor: This is Bernardo Bellotto's etching, "Church of Saint Giustina, Padua." The cross-hatching creates a sense of depth and atmosphere, but I'm curious about the choice to depict this grand architecture in such a seemingly casual, almost genre-scene. What stands out to you? Curator: Note the materiality of the etching itself. The copper plate, the acid, the labor of the artisan translating Bellotto's vision. These prints were commodities, reaching a wider audience than paintings. This process democratized the image of the Church. Editor: So, it's not just about the Church as a religious symbol, but the means of its reproduction and consumption? Curator: Precisely. Consider the social context: prints like these were traded, collected, and displayed, shaping perceptions of Padua and its landmarks. Editor: I never thought about an etching like that before, as an accessible commodity. Curator: The process itself embeds social and economic meaning into the image.