Ferdinando Campana

Ancient Roman Statues - Etching by Ferdinando Campana - 1700s

Late 18th Century

Ancient Roman Statues, from the series "Antiquities of Herculaneum", is an original etching on paper realized by Francesco Cepparoli in the 18th century. Signed on the plate, on the...

Ancient Roman statue, from the series "Antiquities of Herculaneum", is an original etching on paper realized by Francesco Cepparoli in the 18th century. Signed on the plate, on the ...

Ancient Roman statue, from the series "Antiquities of Herculaneum", is an original etching on paper realized in the 18th century. Signed on the ...

Ancient Roman Statue, from the series "Antiquities of Herculaneum", is an original etching on paper realized by Ferdinando Campana in the 18th century. Signed on the plate, on the l...

Pair of Roman Classical Sculpture Engravings, Montfaucon Antiquity, c.1721 This elegant pair of early 18th-century engravings comes from Bernard de Montfaucon’s landmark publication...

Roman Sculptures and Portrait Heads, Composite Antiquities Plate, Montfaucon 1721 Description: This finely engraved composite plate originates from the first English edition of Bern...

Antique Roman Goddess Statues and Reliefs, Montfaucon Classical Engraving 1721 This striking early 18th-century copper engraving presents a rich survey of Roman sculptural antiquity...

Classical Mythological Figures Engraving, Montfaucon Antiquité Expliquée 1721 This original early eighteenth-century copper engraving originates from Bernard de Montfaucon’s monumental antiquarian publication L’Antiquité expliquée et représentée en figures, published in Paris in 1721. Widely regarded as one of the most important scholarly works of the Enlightenment, Montfaucon’s encyclopedic study systematically documented the art, mythology, and material culture of the ancient world, laying essential foundations for modern archaeology and art history. The plate presents a carefully arranged compilation of mythological and sculptural studies derived from ancient sources. Multiple vignettes depict classical figures, relief fragments, and symbolic motifs recorded from antique sculptures, gems, and coins. The composition functions almost as a visual catalogue, comparing different representations of mythological subjects collected from prominent European antiquarian collections, including references to works associated with scholars such as Maffei and other early collectors of classical antiquities. At the bottom of the composition, two triton-like sea beings with human torsos and serpent tails raise a nude female figure above the waves, evoking marine mythology connected to nereids, sea deities, or allegorical representations of Venus emerging from the sea. Surrounding studies include winged figures, sculptural heads, medallions, and mythological scenes rendered with remarkable clarity. Montfaucon’s analytical approach—placing multiple related images together for comparison—reflects the Enlightenment ambition to classify and interpret antiquity through visual evidence. The engraving demonstrates the refined precision of early eighteenth-century Parisian copperplate engraving, characterized by delicate linework, balanced spacing, and restrained tonal shading. Beyond its scholarly significance, the plate possesses strong decorative appeal, combining classical imagery with an elegant graphic structure that suits both traditional and contemporary interiors. This original antique engraving is offered unframed, allowing flexibility to select a frame appropriate to the intended interior or collection setting. Condition: Good antique condition with age-related toning and light paper discoloration consistent with early eighteenth-century prints...