Caption

Amphitheatrum, Colosseum in Rome, The Eight Wonders of the World, print, The ruins of the Roman Colosseum. In the center of the Colosseum is a statue of Jupiter. Battles are in progress. In the foreground, Emperor Vespasian on horseback. He had commissioned the construction of the Colosseum. On the left in the foreground is a relief depicting Romulus and Remus being suckled by a wolf. Below the image is a verse in Latin. This print is part of an album., printmaker: Philips Galle, Antwerp, after drawing by Maarten van Heemskerck, 1572, biological material, parchment (animal material), paper, engraving, hand-colored engraving in multiple colors, pasted onto a parchment album page, a frame in blue, black, and gold around the print, height 210 mm x width 258 mm, amphitheater, Vespasian builds the Colosseum, other monuments which are sometimes included in the Wonders of the World (COLOSSEUM), Rome, Colosseum, A detailed engraving shows a large multi-tiered stone amphitheater with rows of arches and columns curving into the distance, its interior tiers visible with small figures seated and moving; in the foreground a mounted warrior in ornate armor and a plumed helmet rides a rearing horse, reins held taut, while nearby a group of muscular, semi-nude figures gesture toward the arena; to the right a tall draped statue stands on a pedestal holding a long staff and another object, and an eagle or large bird clings near its robes; the arena floor contains reclining animals and tiny human figures engaged in activity, and the surrounding walls and walkways are filled with more small figures; decorative carved stone fragments and a large sculpted foot lie on the lower left, and architectural details, shadows, and fine linework give texture across the scene.

Credit line

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Reference

LZT26B31_459

License type

Rights managed

Available size

47.4Mb (7.9Mb) / 14.9in x 12.3in / 4484 x 3693 (300dpi)

Keywords

Amphitheatrum Colosseum Rome Eight Wonders World print ruins Roman Colosseum center statue Jupiter Battles progress foreground Emperor Vespasian horseback commissioned construction left relief depicting Romulus Remus suckled wolf image verse Latin part album printmaker Philips Galle Antwerp drawing Maarten van Heemskerck 1572 biological material parchment animal material paper engraving hand-colored engraving multiple colors pasted parchment album page frame blue black gold height 210 mm x width 258 mm amphitheater Vespasian builds monuments sometimes included Wonders detailed engraving large multi-tiered stone amphitheater rows arches columns curving distance interior tiers visible small figures seated moving mounted warrior ornate armor plumed helmet rides rearing horse reins held taut nearby group muscular semi-nude figures gesture arena right tall draped statue stands pedestal holding long staff another object eagle large bird clings near robes arena floor contains reclining animals tiny human figures engaged activity surrounding walls walkways filled small figures decorative carved stone fragments large sculpted foot lie lower left architectural details shadows fine linework give texture across scene