Resten van de Tempel van Hadrianus te Rome 1699

This print of the ‘Remains of the Temple of Hadrian in Rome’ was made by Alessandro Specchi in the late 17th or early 18th century, using etching and engraving. It gives us a view of the ruins of a Roman temple, but it is just as interested in the new customs house built alongside it. The text on the print proclaims this new building to be “for the public benefit,” and dedicated to Pope Innocent XII. Through this juxtaposition, Specchi highlights the early modern city’s relationship to its classical past. It shows us a time in which the ruins of classical civilization were not simply preserved as relics. Instead, they were integrated into the fabric of the living city. You can deepen your understanding of this period through archives of building permits, Papal records, and collections of prints like this one. These sources will help you understand the social life of Rome and the public role of art.