Ponte Sant'Angelo c. 18th century

Curator: Daudet's "Ponte Sant'Angelo" presents a serene view of the historic bridge and Castel Sant'Angelo, rendered in delicate detail. Editor: It feels like a stage set, doesn't it? The bridge and castle are almost backdrops, overshadowing the working-class figures in the boat. Curator: That is a good point. The figures in the boat, and those along the riverbank, highlight the relationship between monumental architecture and the everyday lives it frames. The plate captures Rome's layered history. Editor: And speaks to power, doesn't it? The bridge, initially Hadrian's mausoleum, then a papal fortress, continues to dominate the landscape and the lives of ordinary Romans. Who has access? Who crosses? Curator: The view of the Ponte Sant'Angelo here, of course, has been reproduced countless times since Daudet created this print, forming part of the image of Rome as the Grand Tour city. Editor: Yes, and it's a view that omits so much. Where are the disenfranchised in this picture of Rome? The laboring class is present, but muted. Curator: Perhaps that's the enduring tension within these picturesque scenes: the spectacle versus the social reality. Editor: Absolutely. These images need to be examined critically, with a lens on who is seen and who is rendered invisible.