Sala dell'Iliade in the Pitti Palace c. 1870

Francesco Maestosi painted "Sala dell'Iliade in the Pitti Palace" on canvas, rendering an interior view of one of Florence's most important architectural landmarks. Painted in the mid-19th century, it reflects the tastes of the European aristocracy, and their desire to acquire artworks representing the architectural wonders they visited on their Grand Tours. Note the gaze of the man standing in the doorway. His presence invites us to consider what it means to have access to such a space. We are reminded of the power and wealth concentrated in the hands of a select few. The architecture itself, and the artworks displayed within, underscore the historical and cultural narratives favored by the ruling classes. The paintings are carefully curated to tell a particular story, one that emphasizes their lineage and right to rule. Consider the many untold stories, the absent narratives of those who built and maintained these spaces but were never allowed to inhabit them as equals. What might it mean to create alternative visual representations that challenge these traditional narratives?