Etching of Specchi's design for the "prima macchina" of 1726

People:

Francesco Faraone Aquila (etcher)
Alessandro Specchi (architect)
Fabrizio Colonna (patron)
Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI (patron)
Pope Benedict XIII (dedicatee)

Title:

Etching of Specchi's design for the "prima macchina" of 1726

Date:

printed 1726

Description:

- This etching for a fireworks construction or macchina is set against the wall of a courtyard. The central motif is a mountain surmounted by a representation of Mercury slaying a monster. The bottom of the mountain contains a cave inhabited by the Chinea, or white mare.

Form:
works of art

Quantity / Object type:
1 print(s)

Stage and Purpose:

record drawing

Technique and media:

Etching

Dimensions:

plate mark: 37.2 x 46.5 cm sheet: 42.6 x 54.1 cm

Reference number:

DR1988:0437:004

Drawing Type:

line drawing

Method of Projection:

pictorial drawing

Point of View:

general view
exterior view

Physical characteristics and technical requirements:

- The sheet has several old folds.

Inscription:

inscribed and dated - by an unknown hand, in the plate below the image, l.l. to l.r.: "Prospetto in veduta della prima Machina de fuochi, che significa Mercurio che ricide le sette teste dell'Idra rappresentanti li sette vizj, all'applauso di Sua Maestà Ca. è Cattolica, / eretta la vigilia della Festa de S.S. Pietro, e Paolo Apostoli, fatta ardere con fuochi di vago artifizio alla Romana d'ordine dell'Eccmo. Prencipe [sic] D. FABRIZIO COLONNA Gran / Contestabile del Regno di Napoli Ambasciatore Straordinario per la Presentazione della Chinea alla Santità di Nro. Sigre. PAPA BENEDETTO XIII. l'anno 1726. / Disegno, e invenzione di Alessandro Specchi Architto. dell'Eccma. Casa Colonna Francesco Aquila Sculp. con. lic. de Sup." dated and numbered - by an unknown hand, in graphite, on the print outside the plate mark, l.r.: "1726 / I" numbered - by an unknown hand, in graphite, verso, l.r.: "3 [circled] / 51"

Subject:

temporary architecture

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

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