Chiesa di Santa Maria dell'Orto te Rome 1669 - 1670

Giovanni Battista Falda created this print of the Chiesa di Santa Maria dell'Orto in Rome. The engraving captures the church's facade and adjacent structures, emphasizing a structured organization of architectural forms. Falda's technique relies on the power of line to define shape and space. Observe how the precise hatching and cross-hatching create a sense of depth and volume, characteristic of the period's interest in rationalizing space through linear perspective. The facade, meticulously detailed, presents a hierarchy of geometric shapes—squares, rectangles, and triangles—that create a balanced and harmonious composition. This structured approach reflects the prevailing intellectual climate, where clarity and order were seen as virtues. Note how the linear structure both represents and embodies a certain worldview. The detailed rendering invites us to analyze not just the appearance, but also the underlying principles of design and representation. The print serves not only as a visual document but also as a site for continuous engagement with the ideas of order, representation, and meaning.