Duomo Nuovo O Cattedrale E Duomo Vecchio 1898

Giuseppe Barberis made this print of the New Cathedral and Old Cathedral sometime between 1860 and 1917, likely as an illustration for a book or journal. The image offers us a glimpse into the institutional history of the Catholic church in Brescia, Italy. The newer Duomo, standing tall with its classical facade, symbolizes the church's aspirations for modernity and grandeur. Adjacent to it, the Old Cathedral represents a tie to the past. Together, the dual structures speak to the changing social and religious landscape of Italy, a negotiation between tradition and progress. To fully understand this image, one must look into the archives of the Catholic church, the urban development plans of Brescia, and the artistic trends of late 19th-century Italy. Only then can we appreciate how this print reflects a society in transition, grappling with its identity and its place in the modern world.