Three 19th C. Engravings of Classical Italian Bronze Architectural Elements, 1889

Description

A grouping of three engravings depicting classical Italian architectural features held in the National Museum of Naples, entitled "Bronze Hydria", … more A grouping of three engravings depicting classical Italian architectural features held in the National Museum of Naples, entitled "Bronze Hydria", "Marbre Naissance de Bacchus" and "Bronze Trepied Pour Sacrifice" from "Specimens from the Naples Museum : one hundred and sixty-eight plates, engraved on copper by the best Italian artists, illustrating four hundred and sixty-six objects from every branch of art and archaeology", published in Naples in 1889. These were created by artists F. Mori, P. Amendole and R. Radente.

The prints are presented in identical gold-colored wood frames with decorative textured gold-colored mats and gold fillets. Each frame measures 14.75" x 12.5" x 2".

"Marbre Naissance de Bacchus", Fig. 68: Top; The ancient Greek "Gaeta" Vase which depicts in bas-relief Mercury giving the infant Bacchus to the nymph Nisa. Bottom; A large vat adorned with bas-reliefs of Jupiter with his eagle, Hercules with his club, Mercury with his caduceus are visible and around other portions of the structure but not visible are Mars with a lance, Apollo with a lyre, Aesculapius with his staff and serpent and Bacchus with thyrsus and cantharus.

"Bronze Trepied Pour Sacrifice", Fig. 120 A beautiful tripod with three lion-footed legs capped by a seated sphinx and adorned with decorative arabesques and bearded heads of Jupiter Ammon. The legs are braced by elegant sprays of lotus and a lotus bud. The tripod is also called the Tripod of Isis and was meant for the worship of the Egyptian god Isis. It was found in a private house in Herculaneum.

"Bronze Hydria", Fig. 144 A pail richly embossed and inlaid in silver. The handles are hinged and form a rim to the pail when they are in the down position. One of the handles has the inscription " Corneliae S. Chelidonis". less