Rome, 2 views of Palatine Hill, Circus Maximus Giacomo Lauro, 1625, Vestigia et Pars Montis Palatini et Palatii Augusti et Circi Max / Palatium Augusti…

Set of two views of the Palatine Hill in Rome (with the Palace of Augustus) and the surrounding area (showing the ruins of the Circus Maximus), as it was in Antiquity and as it was in the early 17th century.

1. Palatium: Showing The House of Augustus on the Palatine Hill. The Emperor's residence is called the Palatium, and this one appears to be that of Emperor Augustus, first emperor of Rome. It is said that he built his house on the site where Romulus had built his. Augustus lived in the house from from 63 BC to 14 AD. Some of the house still remains and is known for its frescoes and mosaics.

2.Vestigia et Pars Montis Palatini et Palatii Augusti et Circi Max: Ruins of the Palace of Augustus and the Circus Maximus on the Palatine Hill

The engravings are taken from ´Splendore dell antica e moderna Roma ...´, published in Rome in 1625 (first edition started being published in parts from 1612 onwards). The views were explained in four languages The translations into Italian, German and French of the Latin legends below the engraving are printed on the back of the plates.

Giacomo Lauro (or Jacobus Laurus) was an engraver, printer and print publisher. Active in Rome from 1583, when described as 'intagliatori di rame' (Ashby p.362). 17 March 1598 he applied for and was granted a 10-year papal privilege for an unspecified number of unnamed religious prints (Leuschner). Giacomo Lauro’s place and date of birth are unknown, although his signature “Jacobus Laurus Romanus” seems to indicate that the artist was proudly born Roman.

Lauro's earliest dated prints are of 1582 (Martyrdom of St Catherine), and carry the address of C. Duchetti (Ashby, 1926-27, p.362). He also worked for Panzera, c.1589 (Bertolotti). From 1590 he tried to establish himself as a publisher of his own work . He acquired and restored old plates, published copies of classic prints as Marcantonio's St Paul preaching (B.XIV.50.44). He accepted commissions, as the map of Rocca Contrada, 1594 (Anselmi). He probably acquired plates from Jacob Matham which he published in 1598 (Widerkehr). His 'Antiquae Urbis Splendor' was published in parts from 1612. In the volumes issued in 1614 and 1615 Lauro refers to having worked on the study of antiquity for 28 years which would mean that he began this work about 1586 (see Ashby, 1926-27, p.362).

Excellent condition. Strong paper. Ample margins.

Images 18x23cm, pages 22x32cm