Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae: Castello Sant' Angelo

Art Historical Context

This engraving and etching by Giulio de Musi captures the imposing silhouette of Rome’s Castello Sant’Angelo and its adjacent bridge, as they appeared in 1557. Originally Hadrian’s mausoleum, the fortress had long served as a papal stronghold and refuge, its cylindrical mass and fortified walls standing as enduring symbols of both imperial and ecclesiastical power. The print belongs to the celebrated series Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae (“Mirror of Roman Magnificence”), a sixteenth-century publishing venture that assembled views of the city’s ancient and modern monuments for an international...