Unnumbered plate depicting the trades of Rome, here including vendors of religious images, herbs, pigs, socks, bellows, milk, etc, from the 'Descrición de las artes que se llaman para los calles de la ciudad de Roma' 1765 - 1805

This print from the Remondini workshop, likely produced between 1650 and 1860, presents a lively panorama of Roman street vendors. Composed of three distinct registers, each features a procession of figures set against a minimal landscape of green and pale sky. Note how each vendor is delineated by a series of fine, precise lines, typical of engraving, which provide structure to the figures and their wares. The color is applied almost as an afterthought, in flat tints, but notice how this strategy serves to individualize each vendor and the items they offer, from religious icons to herbs and livestock. The print’s division into horizontal registers functions almost like a visual catalogue, yet the repetition of the walking figures also suggests the continuous, dynamic flow of urban life. This emphasis on classifying and visually organizing the chaos of the city reflects a broader Enlightenment project of ordering and understanding the world. Yet, within this structured format, the variety of trades hints at the uncontainable diversity and vitality of Rome itself. In this way, the print provides a fascinating study of how formal structure and social observation intersect.