Baroque Allegorical Engraving with Noble Coat of Arms, circa 1690
€ 380
Original antique · The actual sheet photographed · Certificate of authenticity on request · Sold unframed · Worldwide shipping from € 15 (rates)
Date
1690
Sheet size
26 × 40.5 cm (10.2 × 15.9 in)
Condition
Good
Reference
BG-13675-58
What the condition grades mean
Excellent
Bright and clean, with no faults worth mentioning.
Very good
Only light signs of age, such as faint toning.
Good
Normal signs of age for a sheet of this period: toning, some foxing, small marks or neat old repairs.
Fair
Clear faults such as staining, tears or repairs, priced to match.
Every fault we see is written in the condition note, and the whole sheet is shown uncropped in the photos.
Condition
The engraving exhibits overall good preservation with mild age-related toning and slight foxing. Minor edge wear and slight tears at the margins are evident. Edges brittle. No significant damage to the central image area.
About this sheet
This intricate engraving features an allegorical landscape dedicated to Cardinal Giovanni Francesco Negroni. At the center, a lavishly detailed escutcheon bearing the Negroni family coat of arms is festooned with drapery and flanked by classical figures and lush vegetation. Below the shield, a grand fountain, from which water cascades into a serene pool, serves as a focal point. In the foreground, classical figures, including one in a chariot drawn by swans, inhabit the scene, suggesting themes of nobility and grace. The background reveals a distant view of mountains and a classical temple, enhancing the engraving's depth and the idyllic quality of the landscape. The ornate text beneath the coat of arms likely praises or dedicates the work to the cardinal, common in artworks of this period meant to honor high-ranking individuals.
Fountain with dedication to and coat of arms of Giovanni Francesco Negroni, from the "Fontane delle ville di Frascati" series. This engraving shows a central fountain dedicated to Cardinal Giovanni Francesco Negroni, prominently displaying his coat of arms. In the foreground, two figures work with hammer and chisel on the shield.
Created by an anonymous printmaker and published by Giovanni Giacomo de'Rossi in Rome, Italy, between 1653 and 1691, this piece is part of a larger album exploring the Fountains of Frascati. The artwork is executed in etching and engraving on paper.
