Loggia (the Founding of Rome) 

Gentile da Fabriano painted this fresco of a loggia, or open-air gallery, during the early 15th century. It is said to depict the founding of Rome. Painted in Rome, this architectural detail reflects the city’s ambition to present itself as the New Jerusalem, the center of Western Christendom. The loggia frames a domestic scene, perhaps alluding to the household and its role in the foundation of Roman society. The painting's reference to Rome's founding suggests a connection to the classical past, a theme popular at this time. The artist would have drawn on the classical and early-Christian architectural styles present in the city. Gentile's work suggests that the institutions of art and architecture, while seemingly universal, are always rooted in specific cultural and historical contexts. To gain a deeper understanding of this work, one might consult historical records, architectural surveys, and studies of the era’s political and religious ideologies. The interpretation of art is contingent upon the social and institutional context in which it was created and consumed.