18th Century Italian School Ink Drawing of Archbasilica St. John Lateran in Rome

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Description

An historic ink drawing. It depicts a classical statue, most likely a rendition of Death or Salvation and Damnation
It … Read more An historic ink drawing. It depicts a classical statue, most likely a rendition of Death or Salvation and Damnation
It is captioned below, in scripted Italian - Cvesto Epitafio si ritroua a S Giovani Laterano in Roma (Roughly translated: "This epitaph is located in Saint Giovani Laterano in Rome")
Possibly a rendering of one of the many marble statues in the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran in Rome, Italy
The building was consecrated in 324 AD, and a massive reconstruction and renovation was directed by architect Francesco Borromini (1559-1667), commissioned by Pope Innocent X (1574-1655) in the 17th century
It was not until 1718 that the interior twelve niches were filled with statues of the 12 Apostles, done by the most prominent Roman Rococo sculptors at the time
The front façade is one of the exemplary works by important Florentine Architect Alessandro Galilei (1691-1737), completed two years before his death (1733-1735)
This ink drawing was most likely a sketch of a statue (proposed or existing) during this period of renovation, but maybe earlier and depicts a statue/composition from the last pre-renovation era (possibly missing now). A good clue in this matter could be the research of the Coat-of-Arms held by the personification of "Death"
Italian school, c. 1600's/1700's
Measurements: Approx. 16.5" x 10.5" the sheet
Condition: Good overall. A fold through the middle, which is actually hard to notice in the sketch itself. Three remnants from old stamps or so on the right, not affecting the painted area. Minor age staining, expected from the centuries of simple existence. Ready for framing See less