Monument of the Immaculate Conception c. 19th century

Editor: This is Domenico Amici's "Monument of the Immaculate Conception." It looks like a print, perhaps an engraving. The monument dominates the urban landscape. What’s the story behind it? Curator: This image embodies 19th-century papal power projecting itself into the public sphere. Consider the monument's placement; it visually asserts the Church's presence, shaping the city’s identity and influencing public perception. How does the image itself contribute to this agenda? Editor: The monument is so central; everything leads to it. So, would you say it is a symbol of cultural dominance? Curator: Precisely. And the print serves as a form of visual propaganda, disseminating that dominance and solidifying the Church’s cultural narrative. It’s about power, place, and the politics of representation. Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way. I see the role of art in society more clearly now.