Pair of 18th Century Italian Bust Engravings (Antique Etchings) - Neoclassical Grand Tour Copperplate Prints by Casanova & Campana, Framed

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A pair of antique Neoclassical engravings depicting classical Roman busts, created by artists working within the Royal Neapolitan court during … Read more A pair of antique Neoclassical engravings depicting classical Roman busts, created by artists working within the Royal Neapolitan court during the late 18th century. Each engraving features the traditional plate border, page numbers, and the distinctive Roman and Neapolitan scale bar (“Palmi Romani / Palmi Napolitani”) seen in scholarly archaeological publications of the period. The engravings are individually signed by Giovanni Battista Casanova and Ferdinando Campana with notations such as “Reg. Incis.” and “Reg. Des.”, indicating their official roles in the court’s academic publishing program.

Giovanni Battista Casanova (1720–1795) was an Italian draftsman, academic, and scholar of classical art associated with the Royal Court of Naples and later the Dresden Academy. His drawings were highly regarded for their archaeological accuracy and were used as authoritative models for documenting ancient Roman sculpture during the height of the Neoclassical movement. Casanova contributed illustrations to major royal antiquities publications, where his meticulous draftsmanship made him a trusted interpreter of classical statuary for courts and scholars across Europe.

Ferdinando Campana, active in the late 18th century, served as a “Regio Incisore” (Royal Engraver) for the Neapolitan court. Campana specialized in copperplate engraving and worked on several important archaeological volumes issued under royal patronage, including those illustrating discoveries from Herculaneum and Pompeii. His engravings are recognized for their precision, balanced composition, and scholastic clarity, aligning perfectly with the visual language prized by Grand Tour travelers.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, educated European travelers made a cultural pilgrimage through Italy known as the Grand Tour. They visited Rome, Naples, Pompeii, and Herculaneum, bringing home scholarly engravings of classical busts, ruins, and antiquities as symbols of refinement and learning. Prints like these — created by royal court artists documenting ancient sculpture — were exactly the type of artwork collected and displayed by Grand Tour travelers in libraries and salons.

Both engravings were professionally conservation-mounted and framed by Skyframe & Art in New York, known for museum-standard handling. The frames feature a black fluted profile with gold-toned accents and a warm, classical presentation that suits both traditional and modern interiors. As a pair, they are ideal for flanking a console, anchoring a study or library, or adding architectural presence to a dining room or hallway.

Dimensions: Frames 24.5” H × 20.5" W × 1" D, Image areas 14.5” H × 10.5” W.

Each engraving is printed from plates of identical dimensions; any perceived variation in bust scale is inherent to the original sculptural subjects rather than the print size.

Some light reflections from the protective glass are visible in the photographs; the engravings themselves are crisp, evenly inked, and far clearer in person.

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