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Mirror of Roman Magnificence
Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae
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The Pantheon
Mirror of Roman Magnificence
Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae
Nicolas Beatrizet (French, 1507 or 1515–about 1565)
Published by: Antonio Lafreri (French (worked in Italy), 1512–1577)
Published by: Antonio Lafreri (French (worked in Italy), 1512–1577)
1549
Medium/Technique
Engraving with etching
Dimensions
Sheet: 39.2 × 46.8 cm (15 7/16 × 18 7/16 in.)(trimmed within the platemark)
Credit Line
Harvey D. Parker Collection—Harvey Drury Parker Fund
Accession NumberP1493
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsEurope, Prints and Drawings
ClassificationsPrints
Catalogue Raisonné
Bartsch 100, i/ii [sic; see Note]; Robert-Dumesnil 103, ii/ii; Meyer 103, ii/ii; IFF (16th cent.) vol. 1, p. 91, ii/ii; Le Blanc 102, i/ii [see Note]; Huelsen 5a
DescriptionBartsch and Le Blanc have the states of this print reversed. The second state is from an augmented plate, with two marble lions and a sarcophagus at the bottom. This impression is actually an intermediate state, from the augmented plate, but before additional work in the sky (cf. the impression from the Bibliothèque Nationale illustrated in The Illustrated Bartsch, vol. 29, p. 364).
Marks
Verso, bottom left, stamped in black ink, the mark of David Bernhard Hausmann, Hanover (1784-1874)(Lugt 377); verso, bottom left, stamped in red ink, the mark of Henry F. Sewall, New York (1816-1896)(Lugt 1309); verso, bottom right, stamped in violet ink, the mark of the MFA Harvey D. Parker Collection (Lugt 1870)
InscriptionsAt top: PANTHEUM ROMANUM NUNC MARIAE COGNOMENTO ROTUNDAE NOTUM AD ANTIQUAM SUAM EFFIGIEM ET FORMAM EXPRESSUM
At top (translation): The Roman Pantheon, now a church to Mary, known for its rotunda and ancient shape and distinct form
At lower right: Labrum ex porphyrite, et duos ex ophite Leones Aegyptiis notis illistres, ex prosximis ut opinor Agrippae ac Neronis thermis, in celebriorem et ampliorem locum, pii Pontifices Maximi, ne situ squalloreve iacerent, propter Pantheum erigi collocarique iusserunt.
At top (translation): The Roman Pantheon, now a church to Mary, known for its rotunda and ancient shape and distinct form
At lower right: Labrum ex porphyrite, et duos ex ophite Leones Aegyptiis notis illistres, ex prosximis ut opinor Agrippae ac Neronis thermis, in celebriorem et ampliorem locum, pii Pontifices Maximi, ne situ squalloreve iacerent, propter Pantheum erigi collocarique iusserunt.
ProvenanceEarly provenance not researched; Henry F. Sewall (1816-1896, New York, Lugt 1309); purchased by MFA, November 1897.