Antonio Lafréry (1512-1577) (publisher, perhaps engraver)
La Porte Maior de Rome, Tome III 96
[Porta Maggiore, Vol. 3, Plate 96]
Rome: Mid 16th C. (possibly 17th or 18th Century)
Copperplate engraving
12.75 x 16.75 inches, platemark
14 x 19 inches, overall
$1,200
Porta Maggiore, Rome Architectural View
Antonio Lafréry, Engraving
Antonio Lafréry, Engraving
Perspective view architectural rendering of the Porta Maggiore, a major landmark in Rome, Italy. The gate consists of two arches that support three tiers of inscriptions that explain its provenance. Originally, the arches were part of an aqueduct that Emperor Claudius had built in 52 AD at the intersection of Via Prenestina and Via Labicana to convey water from the countryside into the city. Later the arches were incorporated into the city walls and named Porta Prenestina. Much later the gate became known by its present name because of its proximity to the church of Santa Maria Maggiore. Today, the plaza in front of it is a focal point of Roman transit and just behind the gate is a railway bridge for trains entering and exiting the Termini railway station. This engraving is imprinted with volume and plate numbers, and likely comes from one of the architectural treatises published in Rome by Antonio Lafréry (whose name appears in the lower margin). Perhaps it was part of his most famous collection of prints, Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae [Mirror of Magnificent Rome] (c. 1540-c.1565), or a later work from the 17th or 18th century based upon it. Lafréry himself engraved many perspectival views, so he may also have been the original engraver for this print.
The gate bears three tiers of inscriptions (from top to bottom). The first inscription credits the Emperor Claudius.
"Ti Claudius Drusi F. Caesar Augustus Germanicus Pontif Maxim/ Tribunicia Potestate XII Cos V Imperator XXVII Pater Patriae/ Aquas Claudiam Ex Fontibus Qui Vocabantur Caeruleus et Curtius a Millario XXXXV/ Item Anienem Novam a Milliario LXII Sua Impensa In Urbem Perducendas Curavit."
The next inscription explains that after nine years of interruption, the Emperor Vespasianus restored the flow of water.
"Imp Caesar Vespasianus August Pontif Max Trib Pot II Imp VI Cos III Desig IIII P P/ Aquas Curtiam et Caeruleam Perductas a Divo Claudio et Postea Intermissas Dilapsas Que/ Per Annos Novem Sua Impensa Urbi Restituit."
The third explains the later restoration of the wall:
"Imp T. Caesar Divit Vespasianus Augustus Pontifex Maximus Tribunic/ Potestate X Imperator XVII Pater Patriae Censor Cos VIII/ Aquas Curtiam et Caeruleam Perductas a Divo Claudio et Postea/ A Divo Vespasiano Patre Suo Urbi Restitutas Cum a Capite Aquarum a Solo Vestustate Dilapsae Essent Nova Forma Reducendas Sua Difensa Curavit."
Antonio Lafréry (known as Lafreri in Italian), was a French engraver and print publisher, who went to Italy in 1540 and, with his uncle, Claude Duchet, established the leading print publishing business in Rome of the second half of the 16th century. Lafréry also engraved and published maps. Among his works were two architectural treatises and several sets of ornament prints, including Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae (c. 1540-c.1565), whose subtitle billed it as having the most accurately drawn representations of nearly all the extant monuments of the City of Rome – in the 1570s, the Lafréry catalogue listed some 500 subjects. The Speculum did not have fixed contents; each copy was unique and varied in terms of the number of pages, subjects included, and even the printers and engravers of the prints. Later collectors also added prints to 16th-century copies.
Imprinted: "XCVI. Pl. a la 176. Page T. III" (upper right); "Tome III 96" (lower right); "La Freri" (lower center).
Condition: Generally very good with the usual overall light toning and wear. Few soft creases not obtrusive. Center fold as issued. Top margin short as issued, later professionally extended. Few short tears, professionally restored.
References:
Bénézit, E. Dictionnaire critique et documentaire des Peintres, Sculpteurs, Dessinateurs et Graveurs. France: Librairie Gründ, 1966. Vol. 5, p. 355.
"Departmental Research 1997-1999." Victoria and Albert Museum. http://www.vam.ac.uk/res_cons/research/research_reports/1997-1999/department/index.html (16 February 2007).
Melchiorri, Giuseppe. "Nuova guida metodica di Roma e suoi contorni Parte Terza." Originally published 1834. Placed online 22 October 2004, Paolo Badalì, ed. Accessed at cached version of web page. http://www.avirel.it/bd/autori/melchiorri/nuova_guida_metodica/parte_terza.html (15 February 2007).
"Porta Maggiore." Home & Abroad. 1999-2006. http://www.homeandabroad.com/c/4/Site/1683_Porta_Maggiore_visit.html (15 February 2007).
"Related Engravings." Laocoonte Statuary Group. http://mora.sns.it/rel_incisioni_opere.asp?Lang=ENG&id_obj=251 (16 February 2007).
"Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae Roma nell’incisione del Cinquecento." Mandragora Publishing House. 2006. http://www.mandragora.it/english/titles/speculum1.html (16 February 2007).