18th-Century French Etching — Papal Civic Ceremony, Rome (1777)

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France, dated 1777
Original etching on paper

A finely executed 18th-century French etching by Jean-Pierre-Louis Houël, depicting a large-scale papal … Read more France, dated 1777
Original etching on paper

A finely executed 18th-century French etching by Jean-Pierre-Louis Houël, depicting a large-scale papal civic ceremony in Rome, rendered with exceptional architectural precision and narrative detail. The scene captures an elaborate public procession before monumental Baroque architecture, animated by dense crowds, ceremonial figures, and sculptural elements.

The plate is inscribed “Dessiné et gravé par J. Houël” and dated 1777, firmly placing the work within Houël’s mature period. Lettered references throughout the composition correspond to architectural and ceremonial elements, reflecting the Enlightenment-era emphasis on documentation, order, and classical scholarship.

Houël’s work is closely associated with the Grand Tour tradition, and prints of this scale and complexity were intended for educated collectors, architects, and connoisseurs with an interest in antiquity, urban spectacle, and classical Rome.

Presentation:
Professionally framed in a custom black wood frame with gilt beaded liner, neutral archival matting, and museum glass. Ready to hang. See less