Temple of Peace (from Twelve Original Views in Italy)

Temple of Peace (from Twelve Original Views in Italy)
Temple of Peace (from Twelve Original Views in Italy)
Temple of Peace (from Twelve Original Views in Italy)
National Museum Wales, Cardiff
title=Credit line
Artist
Michael 'Angelo' Rooker (1746-1801) after Wilson
Title
Temple of Peace (from Twelve Original Views in Italy)
Date
Published 29 January 1776
Medium
Etching
Dimensions
Metric: 209 x 284 mm
Imperial: 8 1/4 x 11 3/16 in.
Accession Number
NMW A 10914
Wilson Online Reference
E32B
Description
An extensive view from within the shadow of a wide arch of the temple to villas and gardens in the sunlight beyond. A great white cloud can be seen in the sky. Two women and a child are in the foreground with other figures further off and a beggar by the wall on the left.
Exhibited
Tercentenary 2014 (114)
Provenance
Given by John Deffett Francis, 1886
Signature/inscription
Lettered below the image:
[1] Upper left: R. Wilson del.
[2] Upper right: M. Rooker sc.
[3] Centre: TEMPLE of PEACE.
[4] Publication line: Published Jan: 29 1776 by John Boydell Engraver in Cheapside London.
Inscribed:
[1] Lower left, pencil in modern hand: 7 3/8 x 10 1/2
[2] Lower right, pencil in modern hand: No. 8
[3] Lower right, pencil in modern hand: 86.171.D.F.
Collectors' marks
[1] Recto lower centre: John Deffett Francis (Lugt 1447)
Verso inscriptions
[1] Centre, pencil inverted: Centre No.4
[2] Lower left, pencil inverted: [mark and] 144
Subject
The Temple of Peace was the common name for the Roman forum built by the Emperor Vespasian. It was a favourite with artists of the time including Piranesi.
Related Drawings
D104 The Temple of Peace, Rome, The British Museum (1859,0709.112)
Versions
See 'Links' tab
Related Works by Other Artists
Francis Towne Roman Landscape, watercolour, 1795, Gorringe's Auctions, Lewes, 25 February 2015 (1173)
Critical commentary
This print is based on Wilson's drawing now in the British Museum (D104), where his adoption of an unconventional viewpoint beneath the wide coffered arch allowed him to create sharp contrasts between the foreground shadows and the sunlit gardens beyond. Twelve Original Views in Italy was published by John Boydell as a compilation of etchings by different printmakers, produced over a number of years, after Wilson's drawings or paintings. Michael 'Angelo' Rooker etched three prints for this series, the others being E42 In the Villa Adriana and E43 Villa of Maecenas at Tivoli. The other engravers involved were Joseph Farington, James Gandon, William Hodges and Edward Rooker.
Previous Cat/Ref Nos
86.171 DF
Bibliography
Edwards 1808, p. 88; Pilkington (1810 edn.); Binyon, p. 353 under 11; Wilson and Europe 2014, pp. 292-93
Updated by Compiler
2022-05-11 00:00:00