The little book of architecture ruins
Print
ca. 1560 (made)
ca. 1560 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This print is based on an original design by Léonard Thiry, and it is a reverse copy by Virgil Solis after Jacques Androuet Du Cerceau’s prints from 1550. Solis was a prolific printmaker, whose workshop produced ornament prints intended for furniture decoration, jewelry and so on, as well as biblical illustrations. Solis borrowed from German and Italian engravers; this example shows him borrowing from Du Cerceau, who was French. Solis produced popular prints, and the antique theme in this print is typical of the time.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Titles |
|
Materials and techniques | Etching on paper |
Brief description | Print depicting ruins of classical architecture, engraving by Virgil Solis, Germany (Nuremberg), about 1560 |
Physical description | Print depicting an imaginary scene of ancient Roman ruins, engraving on paper. In the centre, three columns; beyond, a hooded woman beneath an archway. |
Dimensions |
|
Style | |
Marks and inscriptions | 'V.S.' (Signed at bottom to left with artist's monogram.) |
Gallery label | In these imaginary scenes artists draw and measure the ruins. One view shows the type of buried building in which painted grotesque wall and ceiling decorations were found. These are reversed copies of a set engraved by Jacques Androuet Ducerceau after Léonard Thiry, published in 1550.
(Displayed with E.2862-1910 and E.2863-1910) |
Credit line | From the Lanna Collection. |
Object history | In these imaginary scenes artists draw and measure the ruins. One view shows the type of buried building in which painted grotesque wall and ceiling decorations were found. These are reversed copies from a set engraved by Jacques Androuet Ducerceau after Léonard Thiry, published in 1550. Lana Collection (1107; Sr 6414) |
Historical context | This print belongs to a set of thirteen engravings by Virgil Solis which is referred to as ‘the little book of architecture ruins’ in The Illustrated Bartsch (vol. 19, part 1, pp. 161-167; B. 352a and B. 354 missing in the V&A collections). Solis actually copied Jacques Androuet Du Cerceau’s Duodecim Fragmenta structurae veteris published in 1550 in Orléans. Both Du Cerceau and Solis praise Léonard Thiry, the artist who made the original drawings. Thiry was a Flemish artist who worked at Fontainebleau with Rosso Fiorentino. It is not established whether he went to Rome; he could very well have been inspired by the many prints showing views of Rome that were circulating at the time. The antique theme, and the taste for views of ruins were indeed widespread in the 16th century. Solis was a prolific printmaker, whose workshop produced ornament prints intended for furniture decoration, jewellery and so on, as well as biblical illustrations. Solis borrowed from German, Italian and French (as was Du Cerceau) engravers. In the first print (The Illustrated Bartsch, vol. 19, part 1, p. 161, no. 352a), he explains that he has copied this set because it was unavailable in Germany: ' I have realized that it would be for the common good and that of all art lovers, if I were to publish it [...], so that our country would be as fortunate as the Italians and the French'. |
Production | Reversed copy by Virgil Solis from a set engraved by Jacques Androuet Ducerceau after Léonard Thiry, published in 1550. |
Subjects depicted | |
Places depicted | |
Summary | This print is based on an original design by Léonard Thiry, and it is a reverse copy by Virgil Solis after Jacques Androuet Du Cerceau’s prints from 1550. Solis was a prolific printmaker, whose workshop produced ornament prints intended for furniture decoration, jewelry and so on, as well as biblical illustrations. Solis borrowed from German and Italian engravers; this example shows him borrowing from Du Cerceau, who was French. Solis produced popular prints, and the antique theme in this print is typical of the time. |
Associated objects | |
Bibliographic references |
|
Other number | B.356 - Le Peintre-Graveur |
Collection | |
Accession number | E.2864-1910 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
Record created | May 18, 2005 |
Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest