The Vetus Septizonium at the Antonine Baths 1641

Curator: This is Giacomo Lauro's print, "The Vetus Septizonium at the Antonine Baths," held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It looks like an architectural fantasy—almost a ziggurat, depicted with stark lines and an exacting eye. Curator: Lauro is reconstructing a Roman ruin. The Septizonium carried symbolic weight, a backdrop for imperial display, projecting power. Its decay became a symbol of Rome's decline. Editor: The stark contrast between the idealized structure and the figures in the foreground enhances the sense of melancholy. It feels like a meditation on time and ruin. Curator: Yes, the figures in the foreground, one bearing what appears to be a trident, suggest a dialogue between the ancient and the artist's present. A visual elegy. Editor: The composition is quite striking. Its geometric clarity evokes a sense of order imposed on chaos. Curator: The Septizonium functioned as a backdrop, a facade for power. Lauro's image freezes a moment when grandeur met inevitable decay. Editor: It really speaks to the transience of human endeavors, doesn't it? A poignant reflection.