Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae: Arch of Constantine
Medium
Engraving and etching
Dimensions
sheet: 11 5/8 x 16 5/16 in. (29.5 x 41.5 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1941
Accession Number
41.72(1.83)
Tags
About this artwork
This engraving and etching depicts the Arch of Constantine in Rome, created in 1583 as part of the "Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae" series. The print shows the massive triumphal arch erected by Constantine I around 315 CE to commemorate his victory at the Battle of Milvian Bridge, featuring its characteristic triple arches and elaborate sculptural decoration combining elements from earlier monuments with new Constantinian reliefs. The architectural rendering captures the arch's imposing scale a...
About the Artist
Antonio Lafreri|Anonymous|Claudio Duchetti · 1507–1577
Antonio Lafreri, born Antoine du Pérac Lafréry around 1512 in Orgelet in the County of Burgundy (modern-day France), emerged as one of the most influential print publishers of the 16th century after settling in Rome around 1540. His early life and training remain sparsely documented, with no records of specific teachers or art schools; he arrived in the Eternal City as an engraver, producing works...