Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae: Apollo Belvedere 1514 - 1536

Agostino Veneziano created this print, Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae: Apollo Belvedere, using engraving techniques sometime between 1514 and 1536. It depicts the famous Apollo Belvedere statue, celebrated at the time as the pinnacle of classical beauty and artistic achievement. The print was made in Rome, a city then undergoing a revival of interest in its classical past, fueled by archaeological discoveries and Papal patronage. Artists like Veneziano played a crucial role in disseminating knowledge of these ancient treasures. They were responding to the institutional pressures of the time to elevate the status of Rome as the new center of artistic production. The "Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae" itself translates to "Mirror of Roman Magnificence," suggesting the artist's intention to reflect the city's greatness. The print invites questions about the politics of imagery and the social conditions that shape artistic production. By studying historical sources, we can better understand the social and cultural context that shaped this artwork. It emphasizes the role of the historian in revealing the meaning of art as something contingent on social and institutional context.