Gezicht op Ariccia 1665 - 1667

Giovanni Battista Falda created this print, *Gezicht op Ariccia*, during the Roman Baroque period. Falda meticulously renders the architecture and layout of Ariccia, a town southeast of Rome, capturing its physical form and also hinting at the social and political structures that shaped it. The print highlights the built environment of the city, dominated by the grand Palazzo Chigi and the Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta. These structures embody the power and influence of the Chigi family and the Catholic Church during this era. Falda's representation of space and form echoes the period's emphasis on order and control. This depiction of Ariccia, frozen in time, invites reflection on the ever-evolving relationships between power, place, and identity. It serves as a poignant reminder of how built environments shape our experiences and reinforce societal hierarchies.