Lot 403

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Description:

18th c. Antique Copper Engraving of Trajan's Column in Rome by Francesco Piranesi
Francesco PIRANESI (1758-1810) was the son of Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720-1778), a famous archeologist, architect, antiquarian, artist and founder of what became an extremely well-known family workshop in Rome. As a family they (together with Francesco's sister/ Giovanni Battista's other child, Laura), they ran a spectacular print workshop in Rome that focused on the promotion of the ruins and the classical architecture and design of Ancient Rome. Their engravings were made for both 18th c. aristocratic visitors who came to Rome to learn about Antiquity as part of "The Grand Tour" as well as for Romans and Italians interested in Antiquity. This particular engraving identifies itself (through an etching of a marble slab in the bottom right corner) as "Trofei de Daci de Sarmati ed altri Popoli Alleati Scolpiti nella Fascia e nel Piedestallo della Colonna Trajana" [Trophies of the Dacians, the Sarmatians and other allied peoples, carved on the surface and pedestal of Trajan's Column] and is Plate XIV of what was once a large book of engravings entitled _Trofeo o sia Magnifica Colonna Coclide_ (dedicated to Pope Clement XIV). The engraving focuses on the meaning behind the building of a colossal commemorative column (una colonna coclide) that still stands in Rome near today's Piazza Venezia--but that once stood (in the same spot) in the center of Trajan's Library, next to Trajan's Market and Trajan's Forum, across the street from "the forum" (Augustus' Forum), and down the street from the Colosseum. The engraving represents the significance behind the building and decorating of Trajan's 100-foot column, i.e. his Roman victory over Dacia (modern-day Romania), from Soldier/Emperor Trajan's military campaigns in AD101-102; the column was made immediately thereafter in AD103 -133. After his death, Trajan's ashes were placed in the base of the column. And this etching was made and published between 1774 and 1779.

    Dimensions:
  • Image size: 22 3/4 x 32 inches. Sheet size: 31 1/8 x 42 1/8 inches.
    Framed in a large gilded multi-layered frame without glass: frame size is 34 x 44 inches.
  • Condition:
  • Great overall. A 1-cm rip in the lower left-hand corner.

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June 10, 2023 10:00 AM CDT
St. Louis, MO, US

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