Marco Sadeler, The Circus Maximus and the Circus of Caracalla, 1606, Engravings, Framed, Set of 2

Details

Description

Pair of engravings depicting views of Rome, the Circus of Caracalla, and the Circus Maximus – Marco Sadeler (1606) – … Read more Pair of engravings depicting views of Rome, the Circus of Caracalla, and the Circus Maximus – Marco Sadeler (1606) – from *Vestigi delle Antichità di Roma*.
The author emphasizes that the name “Maximus” derives solely from the structure’s monumental dimensions, which far exceeded those of other Roman circuses, venues designated for games and hunts. The work highlights the "features" of the site:
The stands for the people, the carceres, or starting gates for the chariots, the underground passages, the broken obelisk (the Obelisk of Flaminius or that of Constantius II, which were found broken before being moved by the Popes (respectively in Piazza del Popolo and at San Giovanni in Laterano).
It also mentions the Acqua Crabra, a stream, and the hills of the valley between the Aventine and Palatine Hills.
The view of the Circus of Caracalla (Circus of Maxentius), located near the Via Appia and the Church of San Sebastiano, depicts the remains of the ancient site used for festivals and games, accurately measuring its historical dimensions (223 cubits in length).

These rare engravings are taken from the famous series “Vestigi delle Antichità di Roma, Tivoli, Pozzuolo et altri luoghi,” published in Prague in 1606 by Sadeler.

Technical and Historical Details
Artist: Marco Sadeler.
Date: 1606.
Technique: Engraving on paper.
Provenance: Inspired by the works of Stefano Du Pérac, Sadeler’s work adds a distinctive naturalistic touch and includes thirteen plates not found in the original French edition.
Subject: Roman archaeology and 17th-century landscape painting.
They are in good condition, with wide margins, mounted in walnut frames.
These 17th-century antique prints represent a significant iconographic collection for enthusiasts of the Grand Tour. This piece has an attribution mark,
I am sure that it is completely authentic and take full responsibility for any authenticity
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