Technique: Copper engraving on Laid paper

Date: c. 1610

Description: After an antique statue in a conch. From: Antiquarum statuarum urbis Romae liber primus, P. Thomassin, 1610. After the publication of Giovanni Battista de Cavalieri's engraving work "Antiquarum Statuarum Urbis Romae Tertius et Quartus Liber" (1594), it is considered to be the first work with independent engravings after antique statues, personally drawn and engraved by Philippe Thomassin. The French engraver was Jacques Callot's first teacher and created over 430 engravings, many of them after paintings by Italian masters such as Michelangelo.

In all, the work involves the illustration of 50 ancient statues, all of which are set up in niches. 23 of them come from the Borghese Collection, 5 from the Capitoline Collection, four each from the Medici Collection and the Farnese Collection, 3 from Rome: Palazzo Apostolico, Cortile del Belvedere, Statuary Courtyard and one from the Cesarini Collection. The others are without indication of location.

On the dating: the terminus post quem is considered to be 1610 due to the existence of a statue from the Borghese collection from the estate of Guglielmo della Porta (sold in 1609 to Giovanni Battista Borghese); terminus ante quem: 1622.

Inscribed below the image within the printing plate: "AEGERIA ARICINA I AEDIBUS CARD. FARNESIJ".

From the estate of the antiquarian Rosenthal Munich / Amsterdam.

Keywords: 17th century, Figurative, Mythology, Italy,