Le Antichità di Ercolano

Tomo 4: Tavola XXXIX: pag. 185
"Poeta e Musa con maschera teatrale; al centro, ancella", da Portici.

Poet and Muse - Fragment of a Fresco

Le Antichita di Ercolano (The Antiquities of Heculaneum) was a collection of images of archeological finds from the excavations at the Roman city of Herculaneum. It was published over a 40 year period from 1744 to 1792 as the excavations continued. Many different artists and archeologists of the day worked on it.

The Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum were burried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius on the morning of 25 August, 79 AD. It was not until 1709 that the city of Herculaneum was discovered when a peasant digging a well on his property was astonished to uncover large slabs of inscribed marble.

The discoveries of Herculaneum and Pompeii fascinated 18th Century Europeans. Images such as these of the art found during the excavations were circulated to across the continent and helped give rise to the neo-classical style.

These are not reproductions, but authentic 18th Century copperplate engravings on handlaid chainlinked paper. Beautiful light even toning with a hint of sepia.

A marvelous complement to an empire style or Neo-classical decor, they also look striking in a modern setting.

Dimensions: Sheet measures approximately13 X 18 inches (Around 33 X 46 cm). Margins are around 1 inch deeper all around than shown here.

More Herculaneum Engravings

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