Rome: a capriccio of ancient buildings in their unruined state, including two temples, an obelisk, and the mausoleum of Hadrian; with sculptures and a fountain. Etching by J.S. Müller, 1746, after G.P. Panini.

  • Panini, Gian Paolo, 1691 or 1692-1765.
Date:
April 12th 1746
Reference:
2921418i
  • Pictures

About this work

Description

Left to right, the buildings are the temple of Antoninus and Faustina; the temple of Fortuna Virilis (also called temple of Portunus, in the Forum Boarium, Ponte Palatino); and Hadrian's mausoleum (Castel Sant'Angelo). In the centre are an Egyptian obelisk (possibly the Flaminian, Piazza del Popolo), and the Tiber flowing under the Ponte Sant'Angelo (Pons Aelius). In the foreground are (left) the Farnese Hercules (Haskell and Penny, op. cit., pp. 229-232), and on the right a sphinx next to the Medici vase (Haskell and Penny, op. cit., pp. 315-316). Among the staffage are philosophers in discussion by a pool and women getting water from a fountain. On the ground are fragments of ancient buildings

Publication/Creation

[London] : [Publish'd by Ar. Pond], April 12th 1746.

Physical description

1 print : etching, with line engraving ; image 44.7 x 59.9 cm

Lettering

In the collection of George Lewis Coke, Esqr. The basilica of Antoninus, now the custom house at Rome. The temple of Fortuna Virilis. The mausoleum of Hadrian. The Medicean vase. 4 feet 6 inch wide ; 3 feet 4 inch high. Gio Paolo Pannini pinx. ; J.S. Müller sculp. Bears number: No. 3

References note

F. Haskell and N. Penny, Taste and the antique, London 1981
Sotheby's New York, Important Old Master paintings & sculpture, 27 January 2011, lot 182

Reference

Wellcome Collection 2921418i

Reproduction note

After a painting formerly in the possession of George Lewis Coke (1715-1750). At least three paintings of Roman capricci by Panini said to belong to George Lewis Coke were published by Arthur Pond in the mid-1740s as etchings by Johann Sebastian Müller: Wellcome Library nos. 2897471i (1744), 2921417i (1745), and 2921418i (1746). The paintings appear to be lost. Two paintings by Panini of the same composition as two of the Müller prints (Wellcome Library nos. 2921417i and 2921418i), varying in minor details, were offered for sale at Sotheby's New York, on 27 January 2011, lots 181-182, with a provenance not from Coke but from Sir Robert Hildyard (1716-1781): "Not only were George Coke and Sir Robert Hildyard contemporaries, but they both made their Grand Tours within a year of one another, with Coke going to Italy in 1735 and Hildyard following in 1736. It is highly probable that Hildyard would have seen Coke's paintings while in Rome and commissioned a similar set for himself." (Sotheby's, loc. cit). The present composition corresponds to the Hildyard painting which was offered at Sotheby's as lot 182: the painting lacks the obelisk present in this etching

Type/Technique

Languages

Where to find it

  • LocationStatusAccess
    Closed stores

Permanent link