Images of the Plague in Rome, 1656
Title
Images of the Plague in Rome, 1656
Description
Created sometime around the plague outbreak, this set of engravings show the suffering and response of Roman authorities to the spread of disease through the city in 1656. Rome, like the rest of Italy, underwent steep population and economic decline in the seventeenth century, driven in large part by multiple outbreaks of the plague. Although it proved more resilient than many of the cities of Italy, these scenes make clear the disease wreaked havoc in Rome (Alfani, np).
Rome served as the center of the Papal States, the sprawling territory controlled directly by the pope, and the example of plague shows that the papacy, in its earthly role, was forced to confront the economic stagnation and decline that faced the whole of Italy (Hanlon, 208-209).
The symbols of Christendom are present throughout the engravings, and although specific characters are difficult to discern, there are surely clerics walking the streets, carrying out their spiritual and sacramental duties. The Bishop of Rome confronted such outbreaks as the head of one branch of Christendom, but he confronted the seventeenth century’s economic and social upheaval not only as a pan-European leader, but as an Italian head of state. If there is any doubt of the Early Modern papacy’s implicit connection to the Italian peninsula, it should be remembered that when the Dutch Adrian VI died in 1523 it would be 455 years until a non-Italian sat on the Chair of Saint Peter.
Rome served as the center of the Papal States, the sprawling territory controlled directly by the pope, and the example of plague shows that the papacy, in its earthly role, was forced to confront the economic stagnation and decline that faced the whole of Italy (Hanlon, 208-209).
The symbols of Christendom are present throughout the engravings, and although specific characters are difficult to discern, there are surely clerics walking the streets, carrying out their spiritual and sacramental duties. The Bishop of Rome confronted such outbreaks as the head of one branch of Christendom, but he confronted the seventeenth century’s economic and social upheaval not only as a pan-European leader, but as an Italian head of state. If there is any doubt of the Early Modern papacy’s implicit connection to the Italian peninsula, it should be remembered that when the Dutch Adrian VI died in 1523 it would be 455 years until a non-Italian sat on the Chair of Saint Peter.
Creator
Unknown
Source
Episodes in the plague in Rome of 1656. Etching, from Wellcome Collection. Original image here.
Date
c. 1656
Contributor
Matthew Walsh
Rights
Free reuse (CC BY 4.0), with full license available here.
Citation
Unknown, “Images of the Plague in Rome, 1656,” HIST 139 - Early Modern Europe, accessed April 26, 2026, https://earlymoderneurope.hist.sites.carleton.edu/items/show/233.