Gezicht op een plein waarop een toernooi wordt gehouden voor het Festa Fatta, te Rome 1634 - 1649

François Collignon created this print of a tournament in Rome some time in the 17th century. The image celebrates the "Festa Fatta," a type of festival that involved elaborate processions and public games. But beyond the spectacle, the image is most interesting for what it reveals about the social hierarchy of Rome at the time. Look closely and you will see that the stands are packed with spectators from different social classes, each occupying their designated space. This arrangement reflects the rigid social structure of Rome, where access to power and status was carefully controlled. The tournament itself was an expression of power, reinforcing the authority of the ruling elite. To fully understand this print, we need to dig deeper into the social and institutional history of Rome in the 1600s. Contemporary accounts, diaries, and records of the Papal court, for example, can give us a clearer picture of the social dynamics at play. Art history reminds us that images are never neutral. They reflect the social and political context in which they were created.