Italy - Rome; Giovanni Battista Falda (Valduggia

Rare and fascinating perspectival view of the Cestius Pyramid and Porta San Paolo (ancient Porta Ostiensis), incorporated into the circuit of the Aurelian Walls in Rome. The engraving, faithful to Falda's analytic and clean style, celebrates the important restoration and archaeological excavation commissioned by Pope Alexander VII Chigi between 1656 and 1663. The work documents with precision the moment when the ancient tomb of Gaius Cestius was isolated from the soil accumulated over the centuries and protected by a dedicated moat. The scene in the foreground comes to life with seventeenth-century everyday life, with pedestrians, horsemen, and figures on foot, a device typical of Falda to impart proportion and dynamism to the imposing Roman architectures. Excellent/Good specimen printed on contemporary paper. The engraving is sharp with excellent contrast and a richness of details in the chiaroscuro.

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