Capitoline, Rome

Art Historical Context

Behold the majestic *Capitoline, Rome*, an exquisite 1681 etching by Melchiorsel, faithfully reproducing the design of Johann Wilhelm Baur. This print the iconic Capitoline Hill—one of Rome's ancient seven hills—at the heart of the Eternal City's civic and religious life. Home to the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus in antiquity and later the Capitoline Museums, the hill symbolized Roman power and grandeur, drawing artists and travelers during the 17th century's burgeoning Grand Tour era. Küsel, a skilled German engraver known for his precise reproductive prints, employed etching techniques ...