Santa Maria dei Miracoli, Brescia c. 1873

This is Giacomo Rossetti's photograph of Santa Maria dei Miracoli in Brescia, taken some time during his lifetime. Rossetti, who lived in the 19th century, operated within a social structure deeply shaped by class and power, which influenced both the subjects he chose and how he depicted them. This image captures the highly ornamented facade of the Santa Maria dei Miracoli, a prominent religious building. Looking at the photograph now, we may consider the role of religious institutions in shaping cultural values and the representation of power. Santa Maria dei Miracoli, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, became a symbol of faith and communal identity. Rossetti's choice to capture this particular subject invites us to consider the intersections of religion, society, and cultural heritage in 19th-century Italy. The photograph invites us to think about the dialogues between faith, art, and society. It encourages us to reflect on how cultural and religious institutions shape the way we see and understand our world.