Items Similar to Ancient Roman Statue - Etching by Giovanni Morghen - 18th Century

Giovanni Morghen - Palmo Napolitano - Original Etching by Giovanni Morghen - 18th Century

Nicola Billy - Ancient Roman Statue - Original Etching by Nicola Billy - 18th Century

Vincenzo Campana - Ancient Roman Fresco Portraits - Etching by Vincenzo Campana - 18th Century

Vincenzo Campana - Ancient Roman Portraits - Original Etching by Vincenzo Campana - 18th Century

Annibale Carracci - Female Portraits - Etching After Annibale Carracci - 17th Century

(After) Rembrandt van Rijn - The White Arab - Etching by Rembrandt - 19th Century

Want more images or videos?

Request additional images or videos from the seller

1 of 5

Giovanni Morghen
Ancient Roman Statue - Etching by Giovanni Morghen - 18th Century
18th Century

About the Item

Ancient Roman Statue, from the series "Antiquities of Herculaneum", is an original etching on paper realized by Giovanni Morghen in the 18th century. Signed on plate on the lower left. Good conditions with slight foxing. The etching belongs to the print suite “Antiquities of Herculaneum Exposed” (original title: “Le Antichità di Ercolano Esposte”), an eight-volume volume of engravings of the finds from the excavation of the ruins of Herculaneum in the Kingdom of Naples (now Campania, Italy). It was published between 1757 and 1792 by the Regia Stamperia, and copies were delivered to selected recipients across Europe. Despite the title, the Antiquity of Herculaneum shows objects from all the excavations undertaken by the Bourbons in the Gulf of Naples. These include Pompeii, Stabia and two sites of Herculaneum: Resina and Portici. The Bourbon King Carlo appointed fifteen scholars creating a new “Herculaneum Academy” to study the artifacts and publish the results of the archaeological excavations of the sites. The engravings are of high quality and the accompanying text shows a large scholarship. They were realized by 25 prominent artists involved by the King to prepare drawings and engravings on the finds, among which we can find Giovanni Elia Morghen, Carlo Nolli, Luigi Vanvitelli and Giovanni Battista Casanova. The “Antiquities” was designed more to amaze readers with the quality of the objects in the collection of the King of Naples than to be used in research., following and increasing the interest of 18th century society for the classical culture and Art in particular. Through the exaltation of the classical concept of proportions and harmony, the book was of inspiration to the neoclassical movement in Europe, giving artists and decorators access to a huge shop of Hellenistic motifs. Ref.: National Gallery (Washington), Mark J. Millard Architectural, IV (2000), no. 1; L. Garcia y Garcia, Nova bibliotheca pompeiana (2 v., 1998); Royal Institute of British Architects, British Architectural Library ... Early printed books, 1 (1994), no. 112. U. Pannuti, 'Incisori e disegnatori della Stamperia Reale di Napoli nel secolo XVIII: la pubblicazione delle Antichità di Ercolano', in Xenia antiqua, 9 (2000), p. 151-178; V. Trombetta, 'L'edizione de Le Antichità di Ercolano esposte' in Rendiconti dell'Accademia di Archeologia, lettere e belle arti di Napoli , 59 (1984), p.151-172.

Creator:

Giovanni Morghen

Creation Year:

18th Century

Dimensions:

Height: 19.3 in (49 cm)Width: 13.39 in (34 cm)Depth: 0.04 in (1 mm)

Medium:

Etching

Movement & Style:

Old Masters

Period:

18th Century