Aerarii Publici Rome, from a Series of Prints depicting (reconstructed) Buildings from Roman Antiquity 1530 - 1550

Monogrammist G.A. & the Caltrop created this print, Aerarii Publici Rome, sometime in the mid-16th century as part of a series reconstructing buildings from Roman antiquity. The print provides us with a window into the Renaissance architectural imagination which had a fervent interest in classical forms. The design evokes the grandeur of ancient Rome, a period often romanticized for its advancements in law, governance, and engineering. Yet, this nostalgia often obscures the realities of Roman society, which was built on the exploitation of enslaved labor and a rigid class structure. As you gaze at the image, consider what is not shown: the human cost of such architectural achievements and the daily lives of those excluded from its splendor. In that sense, this print serves not only as an architectural study, but also as a prompt to reflect on how societies choose to remember and represent their histories.