Tomb of Cecchino Bracci, S. Maria in Araceoli, Rome 16th century

This is an architectural drawing of the Tomb of Cecchino Bracci, S. Maria in Aracoeli, Rome, by an anonymous artist. In Renaissance Rome, death and remembrance were fertile ground for artistic expression, yet this drawing presents a particularly poignant narrative. Cecchino Bracci was the nephew of a wealthy banker, and, unusually, the tomb was commissioned by his lover. During the Renaissance, same-sex relationships were often policed and shrouded in secrecy, making the overt and public nature of this memorial striking. It serves as both a declaration of love and a testament to the power dynamics of the time. The choice of a grand, ornate tomb reflects the elite status and wealth, but also suggests an attempt to immortalize a relationship that society might otherwise seek to erase. The drawing, in its delicate lines, captures not just the physical structure but the complex layers of love, social status, and the negotiation of identity in a world of strict moral codes.