Plattegrond van Rome ten tijde van keizer Augustus (middelste blad) 1561 - 1602

Curator: This is Jacob Bos’s "Plattegrond van Rome ten tijde van keizer Augustus (middelste blad)," an engraving that provides a bird's-eye view of Rome, dating back to sometime between 1561 and 1602. Editor: It strikes me immediately as incredibly dense. All those tiny lines building into shapes; it's almost overwhelming, yet fascinating. The sheer amount of detail speaks to meticulous labour. Curator: Absolutely. Looking closer, one can start to pick out recognizable ancient landmarks. I'm particularly drawn to how Bos navigates representing such a historically significant city through a Mannerist lens, infusing a kind of stylized drama into urban planning. We need to contextualize Bos’ work within a lineage of visual representation but also to understand the social impact of envisioning Rome this way, given the religious and imperial power dynamics at the time. Editor: And let’s not forget the physical act of creation! Imagine the time and skill to carve all those lines into the plate. The printing process itself also makes me consider how this image would have been circulated, consumed, and potentially transformed across different social spheres and classes of Roman society. Curator: It is a powerful commentary on Roman civilization that requires some unpacking! Its complex intersectionality, its legacy and present. This engraving functions as an artifact embedded within overlapping historical moments – Rome in the age of Augustus, Rome in Bos's time, and Rome as it exists now in our contemporary imaginations. Editor: I find it amazing to consider its longevity, surviving as a physical record of meticulous labor. What materials held up and under what circumstances? Its materiality lends a sense of weight to history that resonates. Curator: Seeing it this way is so very useful and deeply insightful. Editor: Agreed. Let's see what other revelations we can unearth from Bos' vision of ancient Rome.