Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae: Column of Trajan
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
mount: 22 1/8 x 16 7/8 in. (56.2 x 42.8 cm) sheet: 19 5/16 x 11 9/16 in. (49 x 29.4 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(1.97)
Tags
Art Historical Context
This enchanting engraving, titled *Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae: Column of Tra*, captures the majestic spiral reliefs of Rome's iconic Trajan's Column, a masterpiece of ancient Roman engineering from around 113 CE. Produced in 1544 by publisher Antonio Lafreri ( possibly an anonymous collaborator), it forms part of the renowned *Speculum Romanaeificentiae*—a 16th-century collection of over 500 prints documenting Rome's ancient wonders. the Renaissance, such images fueled a revival of classical antiquity, inspiring architects, artists, and scholars amid the city's rediscovery. As an engravi...
About the Artist
Antonio Lafreri|Anonymous · 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...