Circus of Caracalla (from Twelve Original Views in Italy)

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Circus of Caracalla (from Twelve Original Views in Italy)
Circus of Caracalla (from Twelve Original Views in Italy)
Circus of Caracalla (from Twelve Original Views in Italy)
Royal Academy of Arts, London
title=Credit line
Artist
Edward Rooker (c.1712-1774) after Wilson
Title
Circus of Caracalla (from Twelve Original Views in Italy)
Date
Undated
Medium
Etching
Dimensions
Metric: 160 x 235 mm
Imperial: 6 5/16 x 9 1/4 in.
Accession Number
05/4500
Wilson Online Reference
E33B
Description
View of an arena, framed by a massive stone arch, from which hang creepers. In the left foreground are two figures, one seated with a staff over his shoulder, and a dog. To the right of this group is a boulder and there is another at the right base of the arch. Beyond the arena are several buildings and trees.
Exhibited
London 2012; Tercentenary 2014 (116)
Provenance
Acquired by 1802
Signature/inscription
Lettered below image:
[1] Upper left: 'R. Wilson del',
[2] Upper right: 'E. Rooker sc'
[3] Centre: CIRCUS of CARACALLA
Subject
The view is towards the west on what is currently the edge of the Via Appia Pignatelli. To the left in the middle distance, stands the round tower of the mausoleum of Caecilia Metella - one of the most imposing classical remains on the Via Appia Antica. Martin Postle has noted that in actuality it is visible only when one stands before the arch.
Related Drawings
D273 The Circus of Caracalla, Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford (WA.RS.REF.117)
D273A The Circus of Caracalla, Tate, London (T09296)
Versions
See 'Links' tab.
Another impression is in the Witt Print Collection, Courtauld Institute, London
Critical commentary
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. The present print was based on the prime version of the related drawing, D273 (Tate, London). Acquired by William Lock probably while he and Wilson were still in Italy, that drawing is very close to Rooker's etching, e.g. in the lively attitude of the small dog in the left foreground.
Bibliography
Edwards 1808, p. 88; Wilson and Europe 2014, p. 294
More Information
Part of Twelve Original Views in Italy bound in a 19th century volume with Charles Hullmandel's lithographic 24 Views of Italy, 1818. As Rooker died in November 1774, the plate for this print must have been etched some years before the publication of Twelve Original Views in 1776. E33B is one of the few extant impressions of this etching (along with E33) to lack Boydell's publication line. This may indicate that, together with other prints in the series Twelve Original Views in Italy, it was first commissioned by Wilson with a view to publication himself, and only later passed or sold to Boydell when Wilson was hard pressed for cash.
Condition/Conservation
Some discoloured spotting. Conserved 2012 by Emma Cox.
Updated by Compiler
2025-04-30 00:00:00