Talking statues of Rome #1 Madama Lucrezia (2023), PAR, Piazza di San Marco, Rome IT

Over the past 500 years, the genuine and vernacular spirit of Rome has spoken in anonymity through six statues scattered throughout the historic center, collectively known as the Congress of Wits.

Weaving together contemporary art, archaeology, architecture, and history, I conceived and presented the series Talking Statues of Rome during the summer of 2023. Each statue served me as a muse, suggesting a distinct theme that I then proposed to each participant. I invited each sitter to share their personal story and to leave a few words behind, transforming these encounters into an ongoing dialogue woven into the very fabric of the city.

Madama Lucrezia is a colossal Roman marble bust, about 3 meters tall, positioned in a corner next to Palazzo Venezia. Though its imposing height commands attention, the statue’s location remains somewhat hidden. It is believed to represent the Egyptian goddess Isis or one of her priestesses, suggested by the characteristic knot on its robe that links it to Isis’s cult.

The statue acquired its current name from Lucrezia d’Alagno, the beautiful and ambitious favourite of Alfonso V of Aragon, King of Naples. After Alfonso’s death, Lucrezia moved to Rome, having gained wealth and fame but never fulfilling her dream to become queen. The title Madama reflects a Neapolitan honorific, uncommon in Rome, confirming the connection to her.

In the context of my performance, I chose the theme of love, inspired by Madama Lucrezia’s story of desire, aspiration, and by the statue’s unique presence as the sole female figure among Rome’s famed talking statues.

Photo by Luca, Giulia, Daniele Ottavi