Alfabeto Di Lettere Iniziale 1740 - 1760

Mauro Poggi designed this initial letter design in pen and ink sometime in the 1700s. The twisting acanthus leaves and playful putti reflect the revival of classical art in eighteenth-century Europe, as rediscovered artifacts from ancient Rome became a source of artistic inspiration. Yet, there is a darker side to this kind of refined ornament. The elegant letter forms are born out of the institutions of aristocratic patronage and were meant to reflect the good taste and social prestige of wealthy elites. Looking closely, we can see the ways the design represents power. The image presents a rigidly hierarchical world in which playful cherubs and stylized birds are forced to conform to a rigid structure that is also an alphabet. As art historians, we need to understand how the institutions of art such as patronage, salons, and museums shape the production of the art itself. By studying the historical context, we can better understand what kind of social and political realities made this image possible.