print;
broadside
- Museum number
- 1871,0812.796.+
- Title
- Object: Castello S Angelo Con La Girandola
- Description
-
A broadside on the firework display called Girandola at the Castello Sant'Angelo in Rome; with an etching by Brambilla showing a nocturnal scene, in the background the castle, from three of its towers fireworks and smoke developing, in the middle ground the river Tiber and a bridge, in the foreground further fireworks and a crowd of spectators; with engraved title and text in one column. ([Rome], Duchetti: 1579)
- Production date
- 1579
- Dimensions
-
Height: 505 millimetres
-
Width: 379 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- For another, later impression of the same plate published by van Schoel, see BM Y.8-65. For other impressions of a related broadside, see BM 1862-10-11-585, 1870-10-8-2973 and 1947,0319.26(113).
Since 1471, a firework display called the 'Girandola' was held at the Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome, the papal fortress (originally built as a mausoleum for the Roman Emperor Hadrian). The firework display was sponsored by the papacy and held when a new pope was elected or crowned, at Easter, and on 28 June (the eve of the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul).
Ref:
Suzanne Boorsch: Fireworks! Four Centuries of Pyrotechnics in Prints and Drawings, exh. cat., New York, Metr.Mus., 2000
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1871
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1871,0812.796.+