The Piazza of Saint Peter's Seen through an Arch of the Basilica 1778 - 1779

Giacomo Quarenghi created this drawing of the Piazza of Saint Peter's through an arch of the Basilica. The image encapsulates the power of the church and the Papal States during the 18th century. The composition employs a precise linear perspective, framing the vast piazza through the Basilica's arch, thereby controlling our view and subtly reinforcing the dominance of the Catholic Church. Quarenghi, who trained in Rome and later worked for Catherine the Great in Russia, demonstrates an awareness of institutional power. The architectural rendering focuses on the Vatican's grandeur, while the empty public space emphasizes the Church's authority over everyday life. To fully understand this artwork, we should study the social history of Rome, the Vatican's architectural history, and Quarenghi's biography. Only then can we appreciate the role of institutions in shaping artistic production and the socio-political context that framed its creation.