Acht ontwerpen voor penningen 1712 - 1786

Giovanni Marco Pitteri made these eight designs for coins using etching. Coins can tell us a lot about the social and cultural context in which they were made. Each coin bears the insignia of Roman authority. These are visual codes and cultural references which offer insight into the institutional history of the Roman empire, a history built on political control, military might and the apotheosis of its rulers. The inscriptions around the designs reinforce the visual message, emphasizing the emperor’s power and divine status. The images create meaning through historical associations, reminding viewers of Rome’s glorious past and its leaders' connection to the gods. The historian can use these coins as primary source material. By researching the symbols and inscriptions on the coins, we can gain a deeper understanding of Roman ideology and how it was disseminated through visual culture. The meaning of art is contingent on social and institutional context.