Tenplum Isaiae Prophetae, from a Series of 24 Depicting (Reconstructed) Buildings from Roman Antiquity

Monogrammist G.A. & the Caltrop|Anonymous, Italian, 16th century

Plate ca. 1530–50 · Engraving · Drawings and Prints

Perspectival depiction of the left part of a temple, referred to as the ‘Tenplum [sic] Isaiae Prophetae’ placed on a two-stepped podium and set in a stylized landscape. The building is characterized by a domed tower and separate cupola over the central bay. The left side of the building is marked by an avant-corpse that mirrors the central entrance and is crowned by a small cupola with a tall drum and a pointed tip. The print is part of a group of architectural prints depicting buildings from Roman Antiquity, ranging from triumphal arches to bath houses, temples and palaces in Italy, France and Spain. Some of the buildings have been artificially reconstructed based on Medieval descriptions, while others are depicted in their ruinous states. The plates are known in several (uncatalogued) states, and have undergone minor changes over time. Several titles of buildings have been changed, and the plates have been cropped as a result of plate cracks and oxidation. Most copper plates for this series have been engraved on both sides. This print is printed from the same plate as the 'Templum Saturni'.

Artist

Monogrammist G.A. & the Caltrop|Anonymous, Italian, 16th century

Date

Plate ca. 1530–50

Medium

Engraving

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

Purchase, Edward Pearce Casey Fund and Carolyn H. Specht Gift, 2016