Sponsa nuptia appetens in aedibus

Engraving, circa 1599, from the series ANTIQUARUM STATUARUM URBIS ROMAE LIBER PRIMUS, designed, engraved, and printed in Rome by Philippe Thomassin. Example in the first state of two.

Philippe Thomassin was an engraver and publisher, a native of Troyes, active in Rome from 1585. In 1588 he began publishing his works. In 1589 he began a partnership with Jean Turpin; their company was described in the act of dissolution of January 19, 1602 as devoted to 'the practice of painting and engraving, for the purchase and sale of engravings printed by them or by their order, for sale abroad at retail and wholesale...' In 1590 he was arrested and interrogated by the Sacro Offizio for a portrait-which he would engraved of Henry IV of France. In his early years in Rome he worked for publishers such as Claudio Duchetti, Lorenzo Vaccari and Marcello Clodio. He bought old plates, even a group from the heirs of Aliprando Caprioli in 1599 for which he requested a 10-year privilege from Pope Clement VIII in the same year. In 1603 he published two engravings by Francesco Villamena. Baglione said he liked to focus more on religious subjects, but not exclusively, as the important collection Antiquarum Statuarum Urbis Romae shows.

Beautiful proof, printed on contemporary laid paper, with margins, minimal oxidation, otherwise in excellent condition.

Bibliografia

E. Bruwaert, La vie et les oeuvres de Philippe Thomassin Graveur Troyen (1562-1622), 1914, n. 275; The De Rossi family, 497, 534, 1993; Indice delle stampe De Rossi, 17, c. 6, 1735; Indice delle stampe De Rossi, 12, c. 2, 1677; L’Antiquarum Statuarum Urbis Romae fra antichità e collezionismo, in “Bollettino d'Arte” volume speciale VI serie 1995.