Façade van het huis van Giuseppe Costa after 1655

Giovanni Battista Falda created this print of the façade of Giuseppe Costa’s house using etching and engraving techniques. Falda worked in Rome during a period of significant architectural transformation, with powerful families commissioning elaborate buildings to assert their status. Giuseppe Costa's house, rendered with precise lines and attention to detail, embodies the values of the Roman elite. The facade is symmetrical, with each floor marked by different window designs, and the heavily rusticated base gives way to more refined upper levels. The house’s design would have reflected not only Costa’s wealth but also his cultural aspirations. Falda’s print serves as a record and a form of cultural promotion. These images catered to a market eager to consume and emulate the Roman aristocratic lifestyle. Think about how the visual representation of architecture can shape perceptions of power, class, and cultural identity.