The frontispiece and the plate facing page 3 are signed as engraved by Carlo Antonini. The title-page vignette is signed as designed and drawn by Fran. Smuglewicz Polonus and engraved by Carolus Antonini. The nine headpieces and one tailpiece are unsigned.
The printer is named in the colophon: 'Per Arcangelo Casaletti Stampatore Alle Terme Neroniane Il Di Primo Agosto M DCC LXXII ...'.
The publication is dedicated by 'Antonius Casalius Praefectus Urbis' to Pope Clement XIV.
Summary Note
No publication-date is given on the title-page, but the colophon, imprimatur, frontispiece and plate all carry the date 1772.
The work describes a rectangular, marble altar, dedicated by 'Ti. Claudius Faventinus', carrying bas-reliefs on all four sides.
The frontispiece is a view of two sides of the altar; the plate facing page 3 shows the side carrying the dedicatory inscription; the headpieces and one tailpiece show the several bas-reliefs carried on the other sides. The bas-reliefs on one side of the altar represent myths related to Romulus and Remus; those on the other sides represent myths connected with the Trojan War. The title-page vignette shows Roma seated among trophies of arms, the Pantheon and a ruined temple.
Provenance
Acquired between 1772 and 1802. Recorded in RAA Library Catalogue 1802.
Copy Note
The rear pastedown is inscribed in pencil, 'B-3-9' (the book's location, according to the 1821 catalogue of the Library).
Binding Note
18th-century half calf (?), marbled-paper-covered boards; rebacked and recornered in 1989, spine lettered 'Ragionamento Sopra Una Ara Antica'.
Mythology, Greek - Mythology, Roman - Trojan War - Iconography
Altars, Roman - Sculpture, Roman - Bas-reliefs, Roman - Italy - Rome - History
Pictorial works - Italy - 18th century