Opera di M. Bartolomeo Scappi, cuoco secreto di Papa Pio V 1570

Curator: Today, we’re looking at an engraving from 1570 titled, "Opera di M. Bartolomeo Scappi, cuoco secreto di Papa Pio V", now held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It is the work of Bartolomeo Scappi. Editor: Well, my initial impression is that this image feels very stage-managed, very controlled. Each area, from the guards at the door to the dining chamber, seems meticulously arranged, almost like a blueprint. Curator: Absolutely. As a print, this work provides insight into the visual language and production techniques available during the Renaissance. This print wasn't just a piece of art, it served a specific function, tied to labor practices in royal courts and high society, even culinary ones. Editor: I'm interested in how the composition guides the viewer. The placement of each figure, the contrasting lines – it all emphasizes this progression through space, drawing you into each meticulously rendered vignette. And the level of detail given to textiles! It's almost hyperreal. Curator: Notice, too, how it emphasizes class structures. From the guards securing space, the lower servants attending the staircases and rooms to those formally at supper or working in service to Cardinal affairs, one can discern their positions from their clothing, which marks are of labour in terms of production and textile wealth. Editor: That's an excellent point. It’s not merely a depiction of people, but of hierarchical relations and their function on supporting and enabling higher ranked individuals. How the arrangement on these panels makes the point that society does operate like an ecosystem. Curator: And Scappi’s role. He cooked for a Pope, but he published books too, embedding instructions, methods and images related to a world of craftsmanship and its many applications for the privileged. This makes Scappi not merely a skilled chef, but almost a project manager of labour at its finest point! Editor: Right, understanding who is consuming the scene represented. The attention to detail of such spaces, from dining halls to guard's door; or, in other terms, where power can be enabled and constrained…It presents more than simple documentary but active visual architecture that speaks volumes. Curator: Indeed. This work speaks volumes about culinary, material, and societal labor for its time. Editor: I come away reminded how powerful art can be at creating visual narratives that shape perceptions beyond surfaces.