Basiliek van San Crisogono in Trastevere te Rome 1669 - 1670

Giovanni Battista Falda made this print of the Basilica of San Crisogono in Rome, sometime in the second half of the 17th century. Falda was known for his prints of Roman architecture, and this one gives us a clear view of the church's facade and bell tower. What might easily escape our notice, however, is the social context it represents. The Basilica, located in the Trastevere neighborhood, wasn't just a place of worship; it was a symbol of power and influence of the Carmelite order. Prints like these, widely circulated at the time, reinforced the church’s dominance, visually asserting its place in the urban landscape and, by extension, in the lives of the people. To truly understand this image, we need to delve into Rome's urban and religious history, explore the patronage networks of the time, and look at the artist's biography. It reminds us that art never exists in a vacuum, and its meanings are always shaped by the society and institutions that produce and consume it.