Offered by Antichità Castelbarco
Antonio Joli (Modena, 1700 – Naples, 1777)
Pair of views of Rome
1. View of Rome with Trajan's Column and the Church of the Holy Name of Mary
2. View of Rome (Piazza Colonna) with the Antonine Column, Palazzo Chigi and Via del Corso
Oil on canvas 41 x 31 cm Framed 53 x 43 cm
The two views of Rome on offer are taken from a work created around 1740 by the engraver Giovanni Battista Piranesi (Mogliano Veneto, 1720 – Rome, 1778), who had always been fascinated by the antiquities of the Eternal City. In particular, they are taken from the collection entitled “Architetture e Prospettive” (Architecture and Perspectives), which included 135 views of Roman antiquities.
It was a collection of plates depicting classical ruins and ancient monuments, which brought him great fame, thanks above all to the original and captivating perspective of the compositions and the unexpected choice of subjects. In our case, we have Trajan's Column, erected to celebrate the Roman conquest of Dacia (now Romania) by the emperor Trajan, whose highlights are evoked in its sculptural decoration.
The monument is immortalised from the side of Trajan's Forum, with the large dome of the Church of the Name of Mary and Palazzo Bonelli behind it. The second painting depicts the Column of Marcus Aurelius, an ancient monument erected to celebrate the victories of the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius (161-180) over the Danube peoples during the Marcomannic Wars.
Still in its original location, it gave its name to the square where it stands today, Piazza Colonna, with Palazzo Chigi behind it. Paintings such as these were originally created as a kind of “souvenir”, intended in particular for British travellers who came to Italy during their Grand Tour, satisfying the picturesque expectations of tourists staying in the Eternal City.
The author of our pair of paintings, which represent a transposition onto canvas of his creations, is certainly a talented painter active in Rome in the second half of the 18th century.
Executed around the sixth decade of the 18th century, we can attribute their authorship to Antonio Joli (Modena 1700 - Naples 1777), presumably with the contribution of his workshop. Originally from Modena, he moved to Rome in 1720, where he had the opportunity to perfect his skills alongside Giovanni Paolo Pannini from Piacenza. Based on his repertoire, which frequently features Roman views of the most popular squares in Rome, the Tiber and the Forums, we know that he could not have overlooked the illustrious work of the Venetian Giovan Battista Piranesi.
These views are distinguished by a marked sobriety in the choice of colours and an emphasis on architectural elements, often animated by small groups of figures.
Delevery information :
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Should you have the desire to see this or other works in person, we would be happy to welcome you to our gallery in Riva del Garda, Viale Giuseppe Canella 18, we are always open by appointment only.
