drawing;
album
- Museum number
- 1955,1210.10.56
- Description
-
Torre di Capo di Bove on the Via Appia, Rome, with figures; formerly in an album
Watercolour over graphite
- Production date
- 1789-1794
- Dimensions
-
Height: 473 millimetres
-
Width: 617 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- For an introductory comment see 1955,1210.10.1
The tower is still to be found on the left hand side of the Via Appia after the Tomb of Cecilia Metella seen in the background. In between the two monuments the top of the tomb depicted in 1955,1210.10.54. The Torre of Capo di Bove was used in 1751 for the measurement of the meridian arch between Rimini and Rome by Boscovich and in 1870 as a base for the Italian geodetic network by the astronomer Angelo Secchi. It also has a commemorative plaque of the work. The inscription on the Vatican version of the drawing reads: 'A Tomb on the left of the Via Appia, looking towards Rome'. In the Vatican also a posthumous copy, Ashby.Disegni.Scatola.9 (27).
Watermark: 'J. Whatman'.
For a thorough study of Labruzzi's works on the Via Appia see: P.A. de Rosa - B. Jatta, 'La Via Appia nei disegni di Carlo Labruzzi alla Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana', Città del Vaticano B.A.V. 2013.
Variations of the drawing: BAV, Vat. Lat. 14929(2); ASL, Bibl. Sarti, vol. I, 37.
Lit.: De Rosa - Jatta, cit., under cat. 46, pp. 217-8.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1955
- Acquisition notes
- This item has an uncertain or incomplete provenance for the years 1933-45. The British Museum welcomes information and assistance in the investigation and clarification of the provenance of all works during that era.
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1955,1210.10.56
