Caption

Twisted column from St. Peter's Basilica (Colonna Santa), Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae, print, album page, A twisted column decorated with tendrils with composite capital. Called the Colonna Santa., printmaker: Nicolas Beatrizet, Italy, publisher: Antonio Lafreri (possibly), Rome, 1525 - 1565, Nicolas Beatrizet, Antonio Lafreri, printmaker, publisher, paper, engraving, height 420 mm x width 156 mm, This print belongs to the print corpus known as the 'Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae' ('Mirror of Roman Splendor'). This corpus, consisting of prints depicting artworks and buildings from ancient and modern Rome, originated with publishers Antonio Salamanca and Antonio Lafreri. These two foreign publishers joined forces in Rome between 1553 and 1563. Their prints quickly became immensely popular among tourists and collectors, who purchased them individually or in large groups. Large groups of Speculum prints were often bound together in albums upon request. Several Speculum albums have survived, all differing in content. Between 1573 and 1577, Antonio Lafreri published a special title page (titled 'Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae') that people could add to their collections. Lafreri's death in 1577 did not mark the end of the corpus. A large portion of the copper plates passed to Claudio and Stefano Duchetti. The remainder was dispersed among various other publishers. The popularity of the Speculum prints continued to inspire publishers for a considerable period to have copies made and to add new prints to the corpus., A tall, vertical carved column occupies the image, beginning with an ornate capital at the top featuring spirals, rosettes, and leaf motifs, followed by a section of repeating acanthus leaves and dense vine-and-leaf ornamentation that wraps around bulging, rounded segments; further down the shaft the carving shifts into tight, continuous spiral fluting that creates a ribbed, twisted appearance, then returns to a b

Credit line

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Reference

LZT26B30_047

License type

Rights managed

Available size

42.0Mb (11.7Mb) / 6.8in x 23.8in / 2053 x 7147 (300dpi)

Keywords

Twisted column St Peter's Basilica Colonna Santa Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae print album page twisted column decorated tendrils composite capital Called printmaker Nicolas Beatrizet Italy publisher Antonio Lafreri Rome 1525 - 1565 paper engraving height 420 mm x width 156 mm print belongs print corpus Mirror Roman Splendor corpus consisting prints depicting artworks buildings ancient modern Rome originated publishers Antonio Salamanca two foreign publishers joined forces 1553 1563 prints quickly immensely popular tourists collectors purchased them individually large groups Large groups Speculum prints bound together albums upon request Several Speculum albums survived differing content 1573 1577 Antonio Lafreri published special title page titled people add collections Lafreri's death mark large portion copper plates passed Claudio Stefano Duchetti remainder was dispersed various publishers popularity Speculum prints continued inspire publishers considerable period copies add new prints tall vertical carved column occupies image ornate capital top featuring spirals rosettes leaf motifs followed section repeating acanthus leaves dense vine- -leaf ornamentation wraps bulging rounded segments further down shaft carving shifts tight continuous spiral fluting creates ribbed twisted appearance returns b