Aldobrandinische bruiloft 1770 - 1830

Alessandro Mochetti created this print around the turn of the 19th century. The image presents itself as a faithful reproduction of an ancient Roman painting discovered in the ruins of Rome, and placed in the collection of the Aldobrandini family. This print belongs to a long tradition of antiquarianism, in which wealthy landowners displayed their taste and refinement through the collection and display of ancient art. These collections became a kind of public museum, where visitors would learn how to properly understand the art of antiquity. But what exactly was the public role of art? The image suggests that ancient art offers a glimpse into the wedding rituals of an ancient civilization. In this way, it presents the museum as a kind of archive, or as an institution of education. To understand this image more fully, we might consult historical records of the Aldobrandini collection and examine period writings on ancient Roman culture and its influence on contemporary society.