The Cardinal Going to Rome after the Death of Julius I. c. 16th century

Editor: This etching by Pietro Santi Bartoli, "The Cardinal Going to Rome after the Death of Julius I," depicts a procession. The detail achieved through the engraving process is fascinating! What can you tell me about how the materials and process impact our understanding of the work? Curator: The etching process itself is key. Consider the labour involved in creating the metal plate, the deliberate marks, and the printing process. This makes the image reproducible, and spreads political narratives more widely than a unique painting would. Think of it as early mass media, shaping opinions on the Papacy. Editor: So, it’s not just about aesthetics, but about the means of production influencing the message? Curator: Precisely! The affordability and reproducibility challenge traditional notions of art as a unique, precious object. It connects the elite world of cardinals with a wider, consuming public. Editor: That’s a perspective I hadn't considered before. Thank you! Curator: My pleasure. It's all about seeing art as part of a larger system of production and consumption.