Military & Political · 19th century
€ 330
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Condition report: Light overall toning consistent with age; occasional faint foxing in margins; image clean and well preserved.
Grand Interior of Santo Spirito Hospital, Rome – Monumental View, 1867
This refined 19th-century tinted lithograph depicts the monumental interior of the Ospedale di Santo Spirito in Sassia, one of Rome’s most historic charitable institutions. The scene presents the vast hospital hall with its rhythmic arcades, coffered ceiling, and long rows of beds, animated by doctors, clergy, and patients engaged in daily routines. Philippe Benoist’s architectural precision is combined with subtle genre elements, offering both documentary value and human presence.
Published in Paris by H. Charpentier between 1867 and 1869, this plate belongs to the celebrated series “Rome dans sa Grandeur,” a monumental visual survey of the Eternal City during the final decades of Papal Rome. Benoist’s mastery lies in his ability to render complex interior spaces with clarity, depth, and atmosphere, enhanced by delicate tinting that softens the lithographic line.
The Ospedale di Santo Spirito, founded in the Middle Ages and rebuilt during the Renaissance, was renowned throughout Europe. This image records not only its architecture but also 19th-century approaches to public health, charity, and urban life. As such, the print appeals equally to collectors of Roman views, architectural history, medical history, and social documentation. It works exceptionally well as a standalone statement piece or as part of a thematic Roman interior series.
Condition report: Light overall toning consistent with age; occasional faint foxing in margins; image clean and well preserved.
Framing tips: Float mount with a wide off-white mat and a dark walnut or ebonized frame for a museum-style presentation.
Keywords: Rome hospital print, Santo Spirito Rome, Roman interiors, 19th century Rome, Benoist lithograph, medical history art, Paris lithography, architectural interior print
