Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae: Sacrificial Instruments Based on Ancient Relief Sculpture
ca. 1550–75
Medium
Engraving.
Dimensions
sheet: 14 3/16 x 17 11/16 in. (36.1 x 45 cm). Wide margins around platemark.
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1941
Accession Number
41.72(3.15)
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the Renaissance fascination with ancient Rome through *Speculum Romanae Magniae: Sacrificial Instruments on Ancient Relief Sculpture*, exquisite engraving from around 1550–75. Created by master engravers Nicolas Beatrizet, Eneaico, and Claudio Du, this print belongs to a celebrated series compiled by publisher Antonio Lafreri in. Measuring 14 3/16 x 17 11/16 inches with generous margins, it captures the intricate details of ritual tools—knives, axes, skulls—drawn faithfully from classical Roman relief sculptures, evoking the solemnity of ancient sacrificial rites. Engraving, the med...