Sixtus V Pont. Opt. Max. Columnam Traianam S. Petro Apostolor Principi

Etching and engraving, 1589, signed and dated on plate: “Nicolaus van Aelst Bruxellensis formiis aeneis incis[am] dicauit Anno MDLXXXVIIII” (examples of first state only). Engraved by Ambrogio Brambilla – monogram AMBR on the lower left of the column in the example of the first state - for the publisher Nicolas van Aelst.

Example of the second state, with the imprint "Si Stampano in Roma da gio Iacomo De Rossi alla Pace" that replaces the signature of Van Aelst. The plate is completely retouched and on the left is represented the Church of the Santa Maria di Loreto instead of the Church of San Bernardo della Compagnia which is represented in the early state of the plate. The coat of arms of Pope Sixtus V remains.
At the bottom right: "SIXTVS V PONT[IFEX] OPT[IMVS] MAX[IMVS] COLVMNAM TRAIANAM S. PETRO APOSTOLOR[VM] PRI[N]CIPI // SIXTO V PONT[IFEX] MAX[IMVS]"

The statue of St. Peter was raised on the Trajan column on December 4, 1587. The clay model was made by the architect Leonardo Soriani who restored several antiquities in the Vatican and was engaged in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, and by the architect Tommaso Della Porta who made several statues for the decoration of the terraces of St. Peter. The bronze was cast by Bastiano Torrigiani who worked mainly as a smelter, also making the bust of Sixtus V today at the Kaiser Friedrich Museum in Berlin. For the bronze of St. Peter were cast half cannon of Castel Sant'Angelo, three doors from Sant'Agnese, Scala Santa and Portico di San Pietro, and part of an ancient pillar of the Pantheon. (cf. Marigliani, Lo splendore di Roma nell’Arte incisoria del Cinquecento, IV.14).

Beautiful proof, printed on contemporary laid paper, wide margins, in perfect state of preservation.

Bibliografia
Marigliani, Lo splendore di Roma nell’Arte incisoria del Cinquecento (2016), n. IV.14; G. Battelli, 1952, VIII, Col. 1487; C. D’Onofrio, 1965, pp. 179-80; R. Lanciani, II, 1990, p. 131; C. Conti - G. Martines, 1993, p. 34; C. Witcombe, 2008, pp. 361, 364.