Design (perspective view with figures) of the catafalque erected for the funeral service of the Emperor Leopold I in the nave of S. Maria dell’Anima, Rome
Drawing
Late 17th century (made)
Late 17th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Pen and ink and wash drawing on paper
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Design (perspective view with figures) of the catafalque erected for the funeral service of the Emperor Leopold I in the nave of S. Maria dell’Anima, Rome |
| Materials and techniques | Pen and ink and wash |
| Brief description | Drawing, Design (perspective view with figures) of the catafalque erected for the funeral service of the Emperor Leopold I in the nave of S. Maria dell’Anima, Rome, by Carlo Fontana, Italy, Late 17th century |
| Physical description | Pen and ink and wash drawing on paper |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Production type | Design |
| Bibliographic reference | Ward-Jackson, Peter, Italian Drawings Volume II. 17th-18th century, London, 1979, p.138-139.
The following is the full text of the entry:
FONTANA, CARLO (1634-1714)
1003
Design (perspective view with figures) of the catafalque erected for the funeral service of the Emperor Leopold I in the nave of S. Maria dell’Anima, Rome, in 1705
Pen and ink and wash
17 x 12 ½ (432 x 308) E.216-1969
PROVENANCE Dr. W. Müseler (whose name is stamped in ink on some of the pages in the album; bought 1969
LITERATURE Allan Braham, Funeral decorations in early eighteenth century Rome (Victoria and Albert Museum Brochure no. 7), London, 1975, passim.
This and the other designs by Carlo Fontana (or an assistant) in this catalogue are mounted in an album which is described under no. 1093. Most of the drawings in the album are connected with the funeral (in 1712) of Joseph I. Leopold’s son and heir and they are catalogued under the name Poletti (nos. 1093-1171). A larger collection of designs for Leopold’s funeral is preserved in Volume 177 in the Royal Library in Windsor Castle and will be catalogued by Braham. There are two contemporary accounts of the ceremony and its setting; one was written by Fontana himself as a preface to the Windsor volume; while the other was written and published by Francesco Posterla Romano under the title: Istorica e veridical relazione della mola funebre fatta inalzare in occasione delle solenni essequie fatte all’ Augustissimo Imperadore Leopoldo I…Rome, 1705.
Posterla’s account of the catafalque corresponds closely with the drawings. Is is needless to repeat passages that merely describe what we can see, but the following points from his book may help to elucidate the drawings.
(a) The cannons resting on the base of the catafalque numbered eight in all (a pair flanking each of the four pillars) and they discharged incense. A design in the Windsor volume (9855) shows how the smoke was produced and ejected.
(b) The three crowns beneath the baldacchino were stucco replicas of the imperial crown (in the middle), the royal crown (on the right), and the iron crown (on the left). They rested on a big embroidered velvet cushion, beneath a black veil. The supporting pedestal was decorated with four monochrome paintings simulating gilt bas-reliefs, showing four battle are shown again in greater detail on nos. 1007 and 1008 [Museum numbers: E.219 and 220-1969]. There appears to have been no sarcophagus, doubtless because the ceremony was a commemoration, not a burial.
(c) The medallion portrait of the emperor above the three crowns was cared in relief. The spiral friezes on the four mete (as Posterla calls the four candle-shaped columns at the corners of the catafalque) were painted in simulation of gilt bronze reliefs and illustrated four different aspects of the emperor’s spiritual life. The right-hand one dealt with the theme of Devotion, the one on the left with Charity, while Justice and Ingrandimento dell’Imperio were the subjects of the two mete at the back of the catafalque. The spiral reliefs were clearly inspired by Trajan’s column, as Posterla states.
This is the only design in the Windsor and Victoria and Albert volumes that gives a complete view of the catafalque. There is a brown stain across the lower part of the catafalque, which makes the drawing rather difficult to read in this area. There is no drawing showing the complete catafalque of Joseph I in either album. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.216-1969 |
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| Record created | June 30, 2009 |
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