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Antique Old Hand-Coloured Print of Excavations found in Napels, Campania c.1790

About the Item

Untitled antique print of antiquities. This print most likely originates from an edition of 'Le Antichita di Ercolano Esposte' by Ottavio Antonio Bayardi. Published circa 1790. This ancient Roman Scene is an original etching realized by Carlo Oraty in the late 18th century. Signed on the plate, on the lower right. 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.

Dimensions:

Height: 5.32 in (13.5 cm)Width: 10.24 in (26 cm)Depth: 0 in (0.02 mm)

Materials and Techniques:

Paper

Period:

1790-1799

Date of Manufacture:

circa 1790

Condition:

Wear consistent with age and use.

Seller Location:

Langweer, NL