Titelprent met stenen blok met titel, opdracht en wapenschild 1629

Giovanni Battista Mercati created this print with etching in the 17th century. The stone block carries the inscription ‘Some Views and Perspectives of Deserted Places in Rome’. Prints like this one played a key role in shaping the image of Rome for visitors and locals alike. The dedication to Ferdinando, Grand Duke of Tuscany, hints at the patronage system that sustained artists during this period. Artists often relied on wealthy patrons for financial support, and dedications were a way to acknowledge that debt and to curry favor. The image also speaks to the cultural and institutional history of art. Consider the role of the printmaker in disseminating knowledge and shaping taste, and the function of the art market in assigning value to particular kinds of images. To understand this print better, we might turn to archival sources, such as letters and account books, to uncover the social and economic conditions that shaped its production. Only then can we appreciate the full meaning of this seemingly simple image.