Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae: Wild Animals, from antique wall paintings, plate 2
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
sheet: 12 x 16 3/4 in. (30.5 x 42.6 cm) mount: 14 5/8 x 20 3/16 in. (37.2 x 51.2 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(2.179)
Tags
About this artwork
"Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae: Wild Animals, from antique wall paintings, plate 2" by Antonio Lafreri|Anonymous|Antonio Lafreri, created in 1547, is executed in engraving. This prints belongs to the Metropolitan Museum's Drawings and Prints collection. The work measures sheet: 12 x 16 3/4 in. (30.5 x 42.6 cm) mount: 14 5/8 x 20 3/16 in. (37.2 x 51.2 cm). The artwork entered the museum's collection through harris brisbane dick fund, 1941.
Art Historical Context
Step into the Renaissance fascination with ancient Rome through *Speculum Romanae Magniae: Wild Animals, antique wall paintings, plate2*, an engraving published by Antonio Lafreri 1547. This captures vivid depictions of fierce wild animals—likely lions, tigers, or other beasts—drawn from rediscovered Roman frescoes, showcasing the grandeur of antiquity. Lafreri, a prominent Roman publisher and engraver, collaborated with anonymous artists to reproduce these motifs, evoking the exotic menageries that once adorned imperial villas and public spaces. As plate 2 from the renowned *Speculum Romanae...
About the Artist
Antonio Lafreri|Anonymous|Antonio Lafreri · 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...