Architectonisch monument met opdracht aan paus Alexander VII 1665

Editor: This is "Architectonisch monument met opdracht aan paus Alexander VII," a 1665 print by Giovanni Battista Falda, housed here at the Rijksmuseum. It's a pretty intricate engraving – it looks almost like a stage set. The detail is impressive, but it’s also a little overwhelming to take in all at once. What do you see in this piece that I might be missing? Curator: Oh, but the "overwhelm" *is* the point, isn’t it? Think of Rome then – the theatricality of power, literally written in stone and spread across the city! Falda isn’t just showing us a building; he’s presenting an entire worldview. A Baroque *mise-en-scène*. This isn't some humble etching; it's a power play, meant to impress, meant to dominate. It almost demands a musical accompaniment, don't you think? Like a dramatic fanfare? Editor: Absolutely! It really captures that grand ambition. So, beyond the surface-level impressiveness, is there something deeper at play here? Curator: Yes, because while it’s obviously an advertisement of Papal patronage—look at how carefully rendered the lettering is!--it’s also a clever commentary. The print gives you both an eye-level perspective *and* a bird's-eye view…which feels like Falda winking at us. As if to say, "Here's the show they *want* you to see…but I see it all." Does that shift how you feel about it now? Editor: It does, completely! Knowing that adds such a subversive layer. Thanks! Curator: Anytime! Now *I'm* thinking about which Vivaldi piece would best accompany it…