Prospetto del Castello e Ponte Sant'Angelo di Roma …restaurato e abbellito con li Angeli e le ferrate da papa Clemente Non

Splendid view of Ponte and Castel S. Angelo with the Girandola.

The engraving was published for the first time by Matteo Gregorio de Rossi in 1692, and then reprinted by Carlo Losi in 1773.

The illustration commemorates the inauguration of Ponte S. Angelo after the embellishment with ten marble Angels with instruments of the Passion of Christ, designed by Bernini and executed in collaboration with the most famous sculptors of the time.

The fireworks in Castel Sant'Angelo, better known as Girandola, are a tradition dating back to the fifteenth century and more precisely to 1481, when it was introduced to celebrate and give pomp to the pontificate of Sixtus IV, who then wanted to start using the Girandola of Castel Sant'Angelo to celebrate the solemn events that took place in Rome. To take care of the event, we find important names, that immediately give us the idea of the dimension and the spectacularity that the event covered: they were in fact artists like Michelangelo, Bernini and Vespignani to conceive and elaborate, perfecting it, this rain of fire that amazed and that continues to amaze anyone who witnesses it. And it is not by chance that the Girandola, already at that time, attracted spectators from all over Europe.

Exemple of prime state.

Etching, printed on contemporary laid paper, trimmed copper, occasional foxing, in excellent condition.