The Second Book of Ancient Rome by the same Author and Sculptor, Giacomo Lauro 1641

Curator: This is a page from Giacomo Lauro's, "The Second Book of Ancient Rome," a plate from 1613, now held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels both imposing and meticulously crafted, like a miniature monument to Roman grandeur. What is the focus of the symbolic construction? Curator: Lauro highlights the city's ancient monuments, pairing textual descriptions with visual representations. The central figure is Roma, flanked by personifications of Roman virtues. Editor: Interesting, because the figure below Roma looks burdened. Is that meant to suggest the weight of history or perhaps even some kind of cultural underbelly? Curator: Possibly. It could also represent conquered territories or the foundation upon which Rome’s power rests. Lauro's prints were intended to document and celebrate Rome's heritage. Editor: Makes me think about how visual culture is always a negotiation of power and memory, even in these meticulously rendered images. Curator: Precisely. The artwork reminds us that even seemingly objective representations are infused with the cultural and political biases of their time.