Medici vaas 1688 - 1698

This is an image of a Medici vase, created by an anonymous artist. Reproductions of the Medici vase became popular during the 18th and 19th centuries, reflecting an increasing interest in classical antiquity. The vase’s form and decoration evoke the aesthetic values of ancient Greece and Rome. The male figures, depicted nude, embody ideals of beauty and heroism. These forms and values, however, existed in a very different ancient context. The original ancient vases would have been seen as a signifier of wealth and status, reinforcing existing hierarchies. Reproductions of the vase allow for the aesthetic appreciation of classical forms, while simultaneously signaling the legacy of power, colonialism, and cultural appropriation associated with elite collecting practices. Consider how the beauty of this image is entangled with a complex history of power and privilege.