- Museum number
- 1875,0710.184
- Description
-
Reconstruction of a capital of a composite order found in Rome. 1560
Etching
- Production date
- 1560
- Dimensions
-
Height: 295 millimetres
-
Width: 328 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Text from Michael Bury, 'The print in Italy 1550-1620', BM 2001, cat.87)
This is one of a very small group of plates, bearing Salamanca's own address, produced during the period of his partnership with Lafreri between 1553 and his death in 1562. Huelsen noted three, not including the present one (1921, p.127, n.1). It records a huge capital that had been found shortly before between the Arch of Titus and the Arch of Constantine. This representation cannot be a straight description of what was found, but rather a restoration to what was presumed to have been its original form. Salamanca's antiquarian interests are recorded in the account of Rome left by Chemnitz (Basle 1551, but probably reflecting his experience in Rome in 1542-43, see Pagani, 2000, p.150), in which the shops of Tramezzino and Salamanca are described as places where learned conversation took place.
There are some traces of obliterated lettering below the inscription; Gonzalez de Zarate states that it was executed by the monogrammist I.C., but it is not clear why.
ADDENDUM 2005: An earlier state of this plate, without lettering, was attributed by Zerner to Leon Davent (LD.69). There is no inscription on the impression he cites in Paris - BN Gc7 (288 x 338 mm). Given that the plate was later published in Rome, Zerner's attribution becomes very implausible.
ADDENDUM 2021: Michael Bury made a number of mainly bibliographical notes on this print in his own copy of the 2001 catalogue. These are here transcribed with minor editing:
1) IC is covered by the hatching on the cut off shaft
2) Guillaume, Les traités d'architecture [de la Renaissance], Paris 1988, p. 293,
fig. 9 1537 Master PS. Same capital described as near Colosseum. See also the Maerten Heemskerk sketchbook
3) Filibert de l'Orme, Architecture, 1567, Bk VII f. 206 recto
4) Miller, 16th-Century Italian Ornament Prints in the Victoria and Albert Museum, [cat.] 55a pl. 19
5) S. Boorsch, review PQ 2002, p. 411
6) See Cammy Brothers, Archaeology and Ornament: Renaissance Architectural Prints from Column to Cornice, p. 71 with Ant. Sal. exc.
7) See now Peter Fuhring, Le Maître HS, p. 8, n. 27.
He also noted the existence of a version of this same capitol by the Master PS dated 1537, and listed the following references to it:
1) Passavant IV nos. 26, 30, 32-4
Nagler Monogrammisten IV 3268, nos 6-17 Monogrammist PS active 1535-37
perhaps 3rd state (the 2nd state being by Lafreri)
2) See also Serlio 1544, in reverse (Brown, Providence 1980, pl XXX 79a)
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
2001/2 Sep-Jan, BM, P&D, The Print in Italy 1550-1620
2002 Feb-Mar, New York, Miriam & Ira D Wallach AG, The Print in Italy
2002/3 Sep-Jan, Ottawa, NG of Canada, The Print in Italy 1550-1620
2003 Feb-Apr, Edinburgh, NG of Scotland, The Print in Italy 1550-1620
- Acquisition date
- 1875
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1875,0710.184