The Game of Bocce in Rome c. 19th century

Curator: This is Bartolomeo Pinelli’s “The Game of Bocce in Rome.” It depicts a group of men playing bocce ball. Editor: It’s interesting how the artist captures movement in what is essentially a static, linear image. Curator: Yes, bocce, like other games, signifies communal identity, belonging, and regional culture. Pinelli highlights everyday Roman life. Editor: The way they are dressed, their postures, all speak to a certain social class, perhaps pointing to accessibility and community inherent in sport. Curator: It shows sport as a microcosm of society. Editor: Definitely, and thinking about how games serve as a metaphor for life’s struggles. Curator: Such familiar, shared rituals create cultural memory and help to sustain cultural continuity. Editor: It's a fascinating window into a very particular moment in Rome’s social fabric.