Plate 19: view of the Baths of Caracalla, indicating with inscribed letter 'A' the places from which columns were reportedly taken by Pope Pius IV to be sent to the Grand Duke of Florence, from the series 'Ruins of the antiquity of Rome, Tivoli, Pozzuoli, and other places' (Vestigi della antichità di Roma, Tivoli, Pozzvolo et altri luochi) 1606

Aegidius Sadeler II created this print of the Baths of Caracalla, part of his series *Ruins of the antiquity of Rome, Tivoli, Pozzuoli, and other places*. Sadeler was active during a period of intense cultural and political change in Europe. His work reflects both a fascination with classical antiquity and the changing role of the Catholic Church. This print captures the grandeur of the ancient Roman baths, while also subtly commenting on the shifting power dynamics of his time. Embedded in the scene are the social structures of the 16th and 17th centuries. The ruins stand as a testament to a bygone era, while the figures in the foreground represent the contemporary world, navigating the physical and ideological landscape shaped by the past. The removal of columns by Pope Pius IV symbolizes the Church’s assertion of authority. The image invites contemplation on the cyclical nature of history, and the ways in which each generation interprets and repurposes the remnants of the past to suit its own needs and ambitions.