Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae: Comodus (Comodus in aedibus Card. Farnesij)
16th century
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
sheet: 16 5/8 x 13 1/8 in. (42.3 x 33.3 cm) plate: 4 15/16 x 3 1/8 in. (12.5 x 8 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(2.160)
Tags
About this artwork
Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae: Comodus (Comodus in aedibus Card. Farnesij) by Anonymous|Philippe Thomassin|Antonio Lafreri, 16th century. Created in Engraving, this work exemplifies the artistic practices and cultural values of its period. The piece reflects the technical skills and aesthetic sensibilities characteristic of its historical and cultural context. As part of the Drawings and Prints collection, it contributes to our understanding of artistic development and cultural expression. The...
Art Historical Context
This 16th-century engraving, titled *Speculum Romana Magnificentiae: Com (Comodus in aedibus Card. Farnes)*, hails from Antonio Lafreri's renowned anthology of Roman antiquities and views, a "mirror" showcasing the Eternal City's grandeur. Published in Rome, the *Speculum* compiled prints by various artists, including possible contributions from Philippe Thomassin anonymous engravers, to celebrate classical heritage during the Renaissance. Here, it depicts Commodus—likely a ancient statue of the Roman emperor—in the opulent Palazzo Farnese, residence of Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, blending an...
About the Artist
Anonymous|Philippe Thomassin|Antonio Lafreri
In the vast tapestry of art history, "Anonymous" stands not as a singular individual but as a collective designation for countless unidentified creators whose works have endured across millennia. These artists, spanning prehistoric cave painters to medieval illuminators and folk craftsmen, produced the foundational layers of human visual culture. Prior to the Renaissance, when individual fame emer...