Veduta interiore della Gran Basilica di S.Pietro in Vaticano Dinuovo misurata disegnata & intagliata da Alessandro Specchi e

VEDUTA INTERIORE DELLA GRAN BASILICA DI S. PIETRO IN VATICANO / Di nuovo misurata disegnata & intagliata da Alessandro Specchi.

Interior orthogonal view in St Peter's in the Vatican looking across the nave along one entire side. 1687

Etching with engraving, 1687, with title on a fictive curtain followed by a privilege dated 1687 to Giovanni Giacomo de' Rossi, and with a dedication to Giovan Battista Abbate del Palagio by the publisher; below a key to lettered parts of the view.

Alessandro Specchi (Rome 1668–1729) was an architect, urban planner, and engraver. A student and collaborator of Carlo Fontana, he carried out a prolific career as an architectural engraver, including for the volumes published by the master. Architect of the Annona (from 1706), of the Popolo Romano (from 1713), and of the Fabbrica di San Pietro (from 1714), his work contributed to the diffusion of a moderate scenographic and decorative taste in various architectural typologies. Many of his engravings were published by Giovanni Giacomo de’ Rossi and his son Domenico de’ Rossi (1684–1721), including 52 engravings for the Quarto libro del nuovo teatro di palazzi di Roma (Rome, 1699); some of the original plates are now at the Calcografia Nazionale in Rome. Domenico de' Rossi's Studio d'architettura civile (1702–21) provides an architectural source for the city of Rome in 286 plates engraved by Specchi.

A beautiful work, printed on contemporary laid paper, with margins, small oxidations, and ink stains in the lower right corner. Traces of the usual central fold, otherwise in excellent condition.

Bibliografia

Calcografia della Rev. Camera Apostolica alla Curia Innocenziana. Indice delle stampe intagliate in rame a bulino ed in acquaforte. Roma, 1776, p. 28.