Colonna Traiana Eretta Dal Senato, E Popolo Romano All'Imperatore Traiano Augusto Nel Suo Foro In Roma. Scolpita Con L'Historie Della Guerra Dacica La Prima E La Seconda Espeditione, E Vittoria Contro Il Re Decebalo. Nuovamente Disegnata, Et Intagliata Da Pietro Santi Bartoli. Con L'Espositione Latina D'Alfonso Ciaccone, Compendiata Nella Vulgare Lingua Sotto Ciascuna Immagine, Accresciuta Di Medaglie, Inscrittioni, E Trofei, Da Gio. Pietro Bellori.

RA Collection: Book

Record number

03/2151

Variant Title

Historia Utriusque Belli Dacici

Imprint

Con diligente cura, e spesa ridotta à perfettione, e data in luce da Gio. Giacomo de Rossi dalle sue stampe, in Roma, alla Pace con Privilegio del S. Pontefice.: (1751).

Physical Description

[9] (incl. t.-pl., engr. dedic.), 119 pl., 14, [2] p.; 363×455 mm.

[T.-pl., engr. dedic.] - [7 unnumbered pl.] - [Plates 1-119] - Historia Utriusque Belli Dacici A Trajano Cæsare Gesti ... Auctore F. Alphonso Ciacono - Index In Columnæ Trajanicæ Explicationem.

Responsibility Note

No plate is signed, apart from the dedication plate, which is signed as designed by Carlo Errard and engraved by Pietro Santi Bartoli.

A publisher's imprint of Gio. Jacomo Rossi is carried on pl. [4].

The printer of this edition is named in the colophon of the Index: 'ex Calcographia R.C.A. 1751'.

This printing reproduces the dedication by Gio. Giacomo de Rossi to King Louis XIV of France.

References

RIBA, Early printed books, 1 (1994), 212.

Summary Note

The date of printing is given in the colophon of the Index: 'Romae, ex Calcographia R.C.A.1751.Superiorum permissu'. This is a reissue of a work originally published ca. 1673; of which the plates were acquired with the De' Rossi fonds by the Chalcographia of the Reverenda Camera Apostolica of the Catholic Church in 1738. Reprints continued to be issued well into the 19th century.

The work describes the great column which is the sole intact monument of Trajan's Forum (ruined by earthquakes in the 9th century). The pedestal carries friezes showing Dacian weaponry and a dedicatory inscription to Trajan from the Senate and People of Rome. The Tuscan column is adorned with a scrolling frieze (originally perhaps coloured) of 155 scenes showing Trajan's campaigns in Dacia (Romania) in 101-102 and 105 A.D.

After the title-plate and engraved dedication seven unnumbered plates show plans and sections of the column, and elevations of the pedestal. The numbered plates 1-114 show the frieze encircling the column. Plates 115-119 show related coins, inscriptions and trophies.

Bartoli's engravings of the spiral frieze were copied from casts commissioned by Louis XIV in 1669. The same casts were probably used later by Piranesi for his own Trofeo o sia magnifica colonna coclide (ca. 1774).

Provenance

Inscribed in ink on the title-plate, 'Given by Joshua Reynolds Jany 7th 1769'.

Binding Note

18th-century mottled calf; rebacked in 20th century with spine gilt-tooled in 18th-century style; brown spine labels, lettered, 'Bartoli And Bellori Colonna Traiana'.

Name as Subject

Trajan Emperor of Rome
Decebalus King of the Dacians

Subject

Trajan's Column (Rome) - Columns - Sculpture, Roman - Bas-reliefs, Roman - Monuments, Roman - Architecture, Roman - Narrative art - Italy - Rome - 2nd century
Dacians - Romans - Campaigns - Romania - History - Military history - 2nd century
Rulers - Monarchs - Roman emperors - Publicizing - Public relations - Italy - Rome - History - 2nd century
Pictorial works - Italy - 17th century - 18th century