St. Cecilia refusing to sacrifice to Jupiter

Etching, 1670 circa, inscribed at lower left, in the margin: Domini.s Inv. P. Romae; at lower right, in the margin: fran.s Rosa Rom.s Del. Scv. 

Example in the second state of two, with the address of Vincenzo Billy added at lower right: Romae apud Vincentium Billy.

This etching is a mirror image of a painting by Domenichino in the churgh of S. Luigi dei Francesi in Rome.

Excellent work, rich in shades, printed on contemporary laid paper with “double encircled star” watermark, trimmed close to platemark, in very good condition.

Extremely rare.

The exsistence in a single century of at least three artists with the same first and last names has created considerable confusion. The etcher Francesco Rosa, whom Bartsch called "Roman", is to be distinguished from the Francesco Rosas of Genoese and Neapolitan origins. Various sources have partially or totally confused the works of these three artists.