The lowering of the Vatican obelisk

People:

Giovanni Guerra (draughtsman)
Natale Bonifacio (engraver (printmaker))
Domenico Fontana (architect)

Title:

The lowering of the Vatican obelisk

Date:

published August 1586

Description:

- During the moving of the obelisk, Fontana issued two prints, DR1987:0026 and DR1987:0027. The first (DR1987:0026), was published in March 1586 just prior to the lowering, and distributed with a companion tract by Filippo Pigafetta. It shows both the original and final positions of the obelisk as well as the device proposed by Fontana for its transportation. This involved the use of a twin timber tower (the castello, as it was called, is seen in the central portion of the print) that was erected on either side of the obelisk and was used for lowering and raising the monolith. The second (this print) appeared in August, during the raising, and showed the lowering of the obelisk, as it had occured in late April, with a detailed inventory of all the men and horses involved in the operation. The transportation was begun on 30 April and was completed on 10 September, according to Fontana's description of the process in his book, 'Della trasportione dell'obelisco vaticano' of 1590, a work illustrated by Bonifazio and Guerra, the two artists responsible for the execution of these prints.

Form:
works of art

Quantity / Object type:
1 print(s)

Stage and Purpose:

record drawing
veduta

Technique and media:

Engraving

Dimensions:

sheets (three sheets joined): 52 x 115.1 cm

Reference number:

DR1987:0027

Method of Projection:

perspective drawing
cutaway drawing

Inscription:

imprinted - l.l.: "In Roma Natal Bonifacio de Sebenicco fece d'Agosto. 1586"; l.l.: "DOMENICO FOTANA DI MILI / DIOCESI DI COMO ARCHIT. E CONDVTTORE."; l.l.: "Apud Bartholomeum Gra(ss)ium, / Cum Privilegio."; l.c.: "IO. GVERRA MVT. LINEAVIT / ET IMPRIMI. CVRAVIT."; u.c.: "ALLA S. TA DI NRO. S. RE SISTO QVINTO / Poi che la gran pieta & ueramente pontificia di V. Beatitudine ha fatto che / si leui la Guglia del Vaticano da luoco indecente & dalla profanita antica si / transferisca a splendore & ornamento della religion christiana ... Servo perpetuo & deuotiss. o Domenico Fontana Architetto"; Many of the buildings around the Vatican are labelled.

Subject:

architecture
engineering

Credit line:
Collection Centre Canadien d'Architecture/
Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal

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