Domenico Aspari, San Paolo Delle Nuache Milan, 1788, Etching, Framed

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Domenico aspari, san paolo delle monache, milan, 1788. Beautiful view, engraved with etching and engraving, with original frame and glass; … Read more Domenico aspari, san paolo delle monache, milan, 1788. Beautiful view, engraved with etching and engraving, with original frame and glass; the frame is made of ebonized walnut. The sheet was transferred to canvas in 1800. In good condition.

plate number 8 of the "views of milan" series. This plate depicts the church of san paolo, in three-quarters, focusing on the details of the façade. The foreground is sparsely populated. An excellent impression, with bold lines and delicate blacks, from the first edition, created toward the end of the 18th century. Great attention, through subtle chiaroscuro effects, is paid to the architectural features that dominate. Wide margins extend beyond the frame. Below the title is an inscription on the plate: "to her excellence / mrs. Count do. Elisabetta borromeo de conti d'aragona e née marchesa cusani." under the view, on the left, is the signature and date: "domenico aspar. Del ed sculp. Milano 1788," and on the right, "architecture by gianbattista crespi d. Il cerano."

italian painter, engraver, and teacher. Due to his family's financial situation, he was unable to pursue regular studies, but thanks to his outstanding drawing ability, some benefactors allowed him to study at the ferrara academy under giuseppe baldrighi. There, he developed an interest in painting and decorative paintings for the ducal palace. Once he moved to milan, he almost completely abandoned painting to devote himself to engraving, drawing inspiration from piranesi's style. As an engraver and cartoonist, he illustrated giovanni de gamerra's la corneide (1773), much of the first italian edition of winckelmann's storia delle arti del disegno (milan 1779), le vicinde di milano durante la guerra con federigo i (milan 1778), and delle antichità longobardiche milanesi (milan 1792-93, 4 vols.). His true calling, however, came with his sixteen views of milan, etched and engraved between 1786 and 1792. Reprinted several times (the last by vallardi in 1808), they have become extremely rare and deservedly sought after as the only ones worthy of standing alongside the great roman and venetian examples.

bibliography: paolo arrigoni (ed.), milano nelle vecchie stampe, december 1969, no. 129. 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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