The Vatican Obelisk
16th century
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
sheet: 19 11/16 x 11 7/8 in. (50 x 30.2 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, 1917
Accession Number
17.50.19-118
Tags
About this artwork
[Research in progress for The Vatican Obelisk by Anonymous, Italian, 16th century, 16th century]
Art Historical Context
This striking engraving captures the Vatican Obelisk, one of Rome’s most iconic ancient monuments, standing tall against the city’s skyline. Created anonymously by an Italian artist in the 16th century, the print reflects the era’s fascination with monumental architecture and engineering feats. Engravings like this one served as important visual records, allowing viewers across Europe to study and admire grand structures without traveling to Rome. The obelisk itself originated in ancient Egypt and was brought to Rome in antiquity before being re-erected in St. Peter’s Square during the late 1...