Facciata del Castello Nuovo illuminato di Trasparenti.

Illuminations of the castle of Maschio Angiono in Naples, to celebrate birth of a male heir to Charles II King of the Two Sicilies.

Etching with engraving, 1747, signed at lower right. After a drawing by Vincenzo Re.

A good impression, printed on contemporary laid paper, with later hand colour, full margins, very good condition.

This work is one of the 15 plates included in Narrazione delle solenni reali feste fatte celebrare in Napoli da Sua Maestà il re delle Due Sicilie Carlo Infante di Spagna... per la nascita del suo primogenito Filippo Real Principe delle Due Sicilie. In Napoli: 1749, one of the most magnificent books of parties of the Italian eighteenth century and one of the best examples of Neapolitan Rococò.

The rich iconography contained in the volume reproduces the masked balls, banquets and seedlings of environments that hosted the festivities staged to celebrate the birth of Philip, the eldest son of the King of the Two Sicilies Charles of Bourbon. The festivities are represented in fifteen major planks conceived and designed by the Director of the event organization Vincenzo Del Re, architect and designer of the court. Nine of the plates are engraved by Giuseppe Vasi, three by Nicolas Jardin, one by Angelo Guiducci, one by Felice Polanzani and one by Louis the Lorrain, while the author of the text is Nicola Rossi, Secretary of Corsini home.

Vincenzo Re (1695–1762) was an Italian scenic designer. Born in Parma, Re began his career in Turin. In 1737 he became the assistant designer under Pietro Righini at the newly formed Teatro di San Carlo, ultimately replacing him as head designer in 1740. He remained at that post until his death 22 years later in 1762. During his years there, he designed and built sets for well over 100 stage works, including operas, plays, and ballets. Many of his set designs required him to invent new forms of theatrical machinery. He also occasionally served as director for some of the productions.

In addition to his work at the Teatro di San Carlo, Re occasionally worked for smaller theatres, sometimes collaborating with Giuseppe and Antonio Baldi.

He also invented theatrical machinery for a variety of festivities in the Naples area and prepared compositions for dramas and celebrations that were held in the Court Theatre and in the palaces of the nobility. Fifteen of his set designs were engraved on tablets by Giuseppe Vasi and others.