Antoine Lafrery, "Speculun Romanae Magnificen", set of 6 engravings, XVIth

Beautiful and very rare set of six engravings taken from the work entitled "speculun romanae superbeiae" made between 1554 and 1573 by antoine du pérac lafréry and representing the 200 largest monuments of rome. The first engraving made by antoine lafréry, represents the three columns of the temple of catsor in the roman forum, cracked and in poor condition, located in the center of the forum, including 3 people at the foot of the columns. The second engraving depicts the colosseum theatre in the heart of rome, lined with greenery including two figures at the bottom right. With an inscription in latin, there is a void of about 33 mm (height) and 6 mm (width) that a restoration made below has made it possible to fill. The third engraving depicts the temple of antoninus and faustina located in the roman forum. The fourth engraving depicts the mausoleum (funerary monument of great proportions) of cecilia metella (caecilia metella died around 81 bc, female personality of ancient rome and wife of sylla, roman politician). It is the best preserved and best known mausoleum on the via appia (the 500 km long appian way, which connects rome to puglia). The fifth and final engraving in this series depicts a stone tomb (often a large marble square). The sixth engraving depicts the duilius column. To be precise, this type of column is called "rostral column" or "duilius column". This type of monument was made to commemorate a naval victory or victorious maritime campaigns. The one seen in the photo was commissioned by gaius duilius nepos (statesman but also general of the roman republic during the first punic war) to celebrate the naval victory between the romans and the carthaginians at mylae (a small town on the northeast coast of sicily). Finally, an obelisk fountain that was at the time a sign of triumph, of grandeur. Antoine lafréry (antonio lafreri in italian).

Ref. : AVGA2DA4