Title page, from "Trofeo o sia Magnifica Colonna Coclide..." (The Trophy or Magnificent Spiral Column)
Original title: Title page, from "Trofeo o sia Magnifica Colonna Coclide..." (The Trophy or Magnificent Spiral Column)
kurzbeschreibung
This etching serves as the frontispiece to Giovanni Battista Piranesi's 'Trofeo o sia Magnifica Colonna Coclide...' (1774–79), and it departs from the purely documentary plates of that publication through its allegorical staging: an eagle with spread wings perches on a shield bearing two medallions, with a block of text below and two figures in antique dress. The sheet opens the volume on Trajan's Column.
Description
An eagle with outstretched wings sits atop a shield carrying two medallions, one showing a column with the inscription 'S C', the other the profile of a Roman emperor. Beneath the shield stretches a text block headed 'TROFEO O SIA MAGNIFICA COLONNA COCLIDE DI MARMO'. At the eagle's feet stand two figures in ancient garments, and between them lie several medallions with Roman buildings and inscriptions. A border of intricate pattern encloses the whole.
Context
Between 1774 and 1779 Piranesi published 'Trofeo o sia Magnifica Colonna Coclide' in Rome, a work documenting Trajan's Column, one of the foremost monuments of Roman antiquity. The publication belongs among his archaeological studies, which recorded ancient structures in minute detail. On the title page, text and image join to convey the significance of the column.
Impact
The symmetrical layout and precise execution give the sheet a monumental yet decorative presence. The eagle, symbol of Roman power, lends the scene a solemn, classicizing aura. Even lighting and the monochrome palette draw the eye to the delicate details.
Technique
For this etching, the drawing was incised into a wax ground on a copper plate, and the metal was then bitten with acid. Fine lines and hatching build up the detailed passages of figures, medallions and ornament. The sheet was printed horizontally on paper, and the plate measures 44.5 x 69.7 cm.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)