Allegorie ter ere van het Collegio Romano 1624 - 1636

Claude Mellan created this print, "Allegory in honor of the Collegio Romano," using burin in the 17th century. It celebrates the Collegio Romano, an important Jesuit school in Rome. Consider how the image uses classical references to convey the importance of this institution, and how the institution uses classicism to enhance its own status.The figures are draped in classical robes and placed within a courtyard decorated with classical statues. The architectural style, inspired by ancient Rome, emphasizes order, reason, and tradition – values that the Collegio Romano likely sought to associate with itself. To understand this print more fully, we can explore the history of the Jesuit order and its role in education during the Counter-Reformation. Researching the architectural history of Rome during this period would also shed light on the cultural context in which Mellan created this allegory. It is clear that the meaning of art relies heavily on social and institutional context.