Exterieur van het Baptisterium te Florence before 1890

This anonymous photograph depicts the exterior of the Baptistery of Florence. Constructed between 1059 and 1128, the Baptistery would have been one of the most important civic and religious structures in Florence. The photograph captures the building's octagonal shape, its classical references, and its relationship to the surrounding urban space. The Baptistery's Romanesque style speaks to the cultural aspirations of Florence during the medieval period, as it sought to revive the glory of the ancient world. The building served as a site of communal identity, where Florentines were baptized and where important civic ceremonies took place. How does the photograph capture the relationship between art, religion, and civic life in Florence? What does it tell us about the social and political values of the time? As historians, we can use a variety of resources such as architectural surveys, historical documents, and social histories to better understand the cultural significance of the Baptistery and its place in Florentine society. By studying the past, we can gain a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between art and society.